Korean Air turns back, cancels Incheon-Dubai route flights after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran

A Korean Air aircraft takes off from Incheon International Airport in this file photo taken on Sept. 10, 2025. [YONHAP]

 
Korean Air canceled and turned back flights on its Incheon–Dubai route after countries in the Middle East closed their airspace in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, the airline said Sunday.
 
The airline's KE951 flight to Dubai, which departed from Incheon International Airport at around 1:13 p.m. on Saturday, turned back while flying over Myanmar, the carrier said.
 

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Korean Air also scrubbed the next day's KE951 flight, scheduled to depart Incheon for Dubai at about 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
The flag carrier runs daily service between Incheon and Dubai, making it the only Korean airline operating the route seven times a week.
 
“Airspace restrictions related to the United States and Israel's war with Iran in the Middle East are expected to affect flights departing from and arriving in Dubai,” the airline said. “We will closely monitor the situation and take follow-up measures on flight schedules.”
 
Several Middle East countries, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, closed their airspace after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, forcing widespread flight cancellations and rerouting across the region. 
 


This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM EUN-BIN [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]