Batik Air flight to Dubai turns back due to Middle East conflict
Published on: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Published on: Tue, Jun 24, 2025
By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Batik Air says the precautionary measure was taken in full compliance with international aviation safety advisories and route restrictions issued by the relevant authorities. PETALING JAYA: A Batik Air flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai was instructed to return to KLIA in the early hours of today due to the conflict in the Middle East that has seen the closure of airspace over Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Batik Air said the precautionary measure for OD713 was taken in full compliance with international aviation safety advisories and route restrictions issued by the relevant authorities. Upon arrival at KLIA, all affected passengers were provided with the necessary assistance, including hotel accommodation, meals, and ground transport, said the airline in a statement. As the flight was cancelled, affected passengers have been given the option to either cancel their booking for a full refund or rebook onto the next available flight. Both Qatari and Emirati airspace have since reopened for commercial operations, allowing flight services to resume through the affected corridors. Batik Air, which said it would resume operations to Dubai tomorrow, added that contingency plans and dynamic route assessments had been implemented to ensure the continued safety and reliability of its operations.
Advertisement 'We are closely monitoring the evolving geopolitical developments and remain in active coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, international regulators, and regional air navigation service providers,' it said. Airlines scrambled to cancel flights and reroute planes yesterday after several Middle Eastern countries temporarily closed their airspace as Iran attacked a US military base in Doha, reported Reuters On Sunday, the US attacked key Iranian nuclear sites, with Tehran responding yesterday by firing several missiles at the Al Udeid military base. No one was killed or injured. Several major flight routes in the Middle East had already been cut off when Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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