Dubai: Airlines in the UAE are expecting ongoing delays after a terrorist attack on Sunday night at Pakistan’s Jinnah International in Karachi closed the airport.
“Etihad Airways has delayed its flight EY221 from Abu Dhabi to Karachi on Sunday, 8 June, and flight EY222 from Karachi to Abu Dhabi on Monday, 9 June,” stated an Etihad spokesperson.
Militants disguised as police guards armed with machine guns reportedly stormed the airport on Sunday night. There are 23 dead, including all of the militants, according to reports.
An Emirates spokesperson advised passengers to check their website with the closure of the airport said to impact other services on the route.
An Emirates plane was on the ground with crew and passengers on board when the attack took place.
“Under the guidance of the Pakistan military the passengers and crew disembarked the aircraft and were taken to a secure area of the terminal,” the Emirates spokesperson stated.
Sunday’s EK603 Karachi to Dubai service was cancelled; however, passengers will be re-booked on alternative Emirates flights once the airport reopens. Emirates currently operate four daily flights to Karachi, according to its website.
The Emirates website shows three out of four flights from Dubai to Karachi on Monday delayed with the first, the 1:30am flight, now scheduled to depart at 4pm.
Etihad’s Sunday Karachi bound flight is scheduled to depart Monday at 5:05pm and the Abu Dhabi bound is scheduled to depart at 8:30pm.
Etihad and Emirates said that the safety of passengers and crew is of the utmost importance. Etihad said it’s continuing to monitor the security situation. According to reports at 8 a.m. local time this morning, gunfire had resumed.
