An Emirates flight to Dubai was held on the ground at Heathrow after the carrier said the aircraft could not depart because of air strikes in the United Arab Emirates region. The disruption affected passengers on a long-haul route that was scheduled to leave London for Dubai.

The incident comes as airlines continue to adjust operations in response to instability in parts of the Middle East. Emirates did not immediately provide further details on the length of the delay or whether the flight later departed as planned.

The report did not say how many passengers were on board or whether any other Emirates services were affected. Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, has previously seen travel disruption linked to security concerns and regional conflict.

Air travel to and from the Gulf is often among the first to be affected when tensions rise in the wider region, with carriers monitoring airspace restrictions, safety advice and government notices. Flights can be delayed, rerouted or cancelled at short notice when conditions change.

Emirates, which operates a large network of international routes from its Dubai hub, is one of the biggest long-haul airlines in the world. Dubai is a major connection point for travellers moving between Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, so any disruption on the route can have knock-on effects for onward journeys.