Emirates Flight Returns to Dubai as Taliban Encircles Kabul

An Emirates flight from Dubai abandoned its landing in Kabul and returned to Dubai on Sunday as Taliban militants encircled Afghanistan’s capital city.

“Due to the unforeseen temporary closure of the runway at the time of Emirates’ approach at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Emirates flight EK 640 to Kabul operating on 15 August has returned back to Dubai,” the state-owned airline said. Flydubai, also owned by Dubai’s government, temporarily suspended its operations to Kabul.

An Air India Airbus SE A320neo, from Delhi to Kabul, also circled over the city for several minutes before landing at 2:32 pm local time, 45 minutes after its scheduled arrival time, according to FlightRadar24.

Fighters from the militant group entered the outskirts of Kabul on Sunday as the U.S. and other nations rushed to evacuate their citizens. Taliban forces now hold all of Afghanistan’s border crossings, leaving Kabul airport as the only route out, the Associated Press reported.