Emirates’ Boeing 777 returns to Dubai after being stuck in Iran for a month. While the crew was safely flown back to Dubai, the plane remained stranded in Tehran. On June 13, 2025, Emirates conducted its routine flight from Dubai (DXB) to Tehran (IKA) amid tensions between Israel and Iran, which resulted in the closure of Iran’s airspace. Iran’s western airspace remained closed due to security reasons.
Why was the Emirates flight stranded in Iran?
The rise in tension between Israel and Iran had led to Iran’s airspace being closed on June 13th. Unknown to the staff at Emirates, the Israeli fighters were set to launch air strikes in Iran. Meanwhile, flight EK977 had already entered the Iranian airspace.
Fortunately, the flight managed to land safely at the Tehran airport. But the closure of the Iranian airspace led to the aircraft being stranded, although the Emirates flight returned to Dubai after a month, as per reports.
Is Iranian airspace entirely open?
While Iran’s eastern airspace reopened to domestic, international, and transit flights, the country’s western airspace has been closed yet again. Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development stated that the increase in security concerns has led to the closure of the western airspace.
In a statement by the spokesperson for the ministry, Majid Akhavan revealed that the decision was made by a civil aviation coordination committee to avoid any security risks.
What do you think about this closure of the Iranian airspace? Let us know in the comments below.
