ABU DHABI // Hundreds of flights out of Abu Dhabi were delayed and at least 35 cancelled yesterday after a plane damaged tarmac lights on the southbound runway of Abu Dhabi International Airport in dense fog.
Etihad Flight EY045 to Dublin veered off its line in the mist as it prepared to take off at 3.19am. The damage to the lights caused a six-hour shutdown of the southbound runway.
The Airbus A330-200 was carrying 208 passengers and crew. None was injured, but there was some damage to the aircraft's tyres.
The north runway handled all flight departure and arrivals until the south runway resumed normal operation at 9.10am after the completion of safety checks.
At least 35 flights were cancelled, including 11 Etihad flights, and 150 were delayed by more than an hour, according to flightstats.com.
"The airport resumed normal operations this morning, with expected delays in some flight departures," said Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operating officer at Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac).
The airline is expected to resume its normal schedule today.
Etihad apologised to passengers who had been inconvenienced and said it was doing everything possible to help those affected.
Passengers on the Dublin-bound flight disembarked and were sent to nearby hotels. Etihad did not confirm if all had subsequently departed for Dublin.
International golfers who had been in town for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship were not affected by the delays.
Lee Westwood and Luke Donald both said on Twitter they had left without trouble, with Donald tweeting yesterday evening: "Luckily I left from Dubai. Back in the US now…".
Etihad and local authorities are investigating the circumstances of the incident, but the fog was suspected to be a contributory factor.
The weather reduced morning traffic on major roads to a crawl.
Drivers reported gridlock conditions in Jebel Ali, on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain motorway and in the south-west of the capital.
Kostas Lalas, a Dubai resident from Greece, took pictures of the conditions and posted them on Facebook.
"I saw thick fog as I was driving from Motor City to Bur Dubai at around 6.30am," he said. "The visibility was very low and I had to turn on my lights.
"It was a bad situation, but it got better as you moved closer towards the city."
Robert Hodges, chief operating officer at the Emirates Driving Institute in Dubai, urged motorists to be careful while driving in fog.
"People are not used to driving in foggy conditions in the UAE. There are certain basic things which everyone should do," he said.
"Do not drive at high speed if you cannot see anything in front of you, and also do not put hazard lights on as it is not helpful."
Instead, he advised motorists to slow down, switch on their sidelights and dim their headlights.
While police did not report any accidents related to yesterday's fog, the UAE has witnessed its fair share of horrific crashes in the past.
In 2008, the Ghantoot pile-up of over 150 vehicles on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai motorway resulted in the death of four and injuries to hundreds.
Just four months ago, 14 people were injured in a 32-car pile-up on Dubai Bypass Road. At least 60 were injured and one died in a 127-car pile-up on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai motorway near Al Samha in April.
The National Center of Meteorology and Seismology also urged motorists to drive carefully in the fog. A weather forecaster said foggy conditions were likely to persist today as the temperature continues to fall. Seas will remain rough but will become moderate by the afternoon.
frahman@thenational.ae
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20six-cylinder%20turbo%20(BMW%20B58)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20340hp%20at%206%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500Nm%20from%201%2C600-4%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20ZF%208-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100kph%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.2sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20267kph%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh462%2C189%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWarranty%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030-month%2F48%2C000k%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Mobile phone packages comparison
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):
PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)
Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
