Flights Forced to Turn Around After Iran Airspace Closure

American Airlines and Emirates jets spent over 15 hours in the air before landing back at their starting points.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Two long-haul flights from the US to the Middle East were forced to turn around and return to their starting airports after Gulf countries abruptly closed their airspace due to the conflict in Iran. An American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Doha and an Emirates flight spent nearly 16 hours in the air before landing back in Philadelphia and Dubai, respectively.

Why it matters

The closure of airspace over the Persian Gulf region due to regional tensions has caused significant disruptions to international air travel, forcing airlines to reroute flights or cancel service entirely. This highlights the broader impact that geopolitical conflicts can have on global transportation networks.

The details

American Airlines Flight 120 left Philadelphia on Friday night bound for Doha, Qatar, but after crossing the Atlantic and reaching the Mediterranean, the pilots were forced to turn the plane around off the coast of Spain and return to Philadelphia after 15 hours and 32 minutes in the air. Similarly, an Emirates flight from the US to Dubai spent nearly 16 hours in the air before landing back in Dubai.

  • American Airlines Flight 120 departed Philadelphia on Friday night, March 1, 2026.
  • The flight turned around off the coast of Spain after 15 hours and 32 minutes in the air.

The players

American Airlines

A major US-based airline that operates flights around the world.

Emirates

A major airline based in the United Arab Emirates that operates flights globally.

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What’s next

Airlines are working to reroute flights and minimize disruptions as the airspace closure continues, but further delays and cancellations are expected until the situation is resolved.

The takeaway

The closure of airspace over the Persian Gulf due to regional conflicts has had a significant impact on international air travel, forcing airlines to make costly and time-consuming diversions that inconvenience passengers and disrupt global transportation networks.