One flight from Edinburgh made it as far Egyptian airspace before turning back after the major United Arab Emirates hub suspended departures and arrivals.

The latest shutdown of Dubai’s airport has disrupted the travel plans of thousands of UK passengers.

Dubai International Airport announced on Monday, at 1.36am GMT, it had suspended flights after a drone hit a nearby fuel tank.

Many Emirates flights already in the air were diverted, while others waiting to take off were cancelled.

Five flights from UK airports had to return to their points of origin, including a journey from Edinburgh which had made it as far Egyptian airspace before turning back.

An Emirates spokesperson said: “We can confirm the flight [EK24] returned to Edinburgh due to operational disruption.”

Other passengers on board a flight from London Stansted almost made it to Dubai, but were instead diverted to Vienna, Austria.

The closure of the major United Arab Emirates hub also impacts thousands hoping to finally return to the UK after being stranded in the Middle East, or other airports where UK flights connect in the region, since the US and Israel launched its war on Iran.

On Monday, all seven Emirates flights from Dubai to London Heathrow were cancelled.