Travelers on Emirates flights are facing new regulations, as the airline has banned the transportation of pagers and walkie-talkies in checked or cabin baggage. This decision comes after explosive devices similar to these, owned by the militant group Hezbollah, detonated in Lebanon last month.
Emirates confirmed the new policy in a statement: “All passengers traveling on flights to, from, or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie talkies in checked or cabin baggage.” The airline further warned that any such items found in passengers’ luggage would be confiscated by Dubai Police.
Details of the Explosive Incident
The ban follows an incident last month in which pagers and walkie-talkies laced with explosives, belonging to Hezbollah, detonated, causing significant damage. The incident resulted in the death of at least 37 people and injured nearly 3,000.
According to the Washington Post, the operation involved Israeli intelligence and it originated in 2022. However, Israel’s spy service, Mossad, first began inserting booby-trapped walkie-talkies into Lebanon in 2015. These devices facilitated eavesdropping on Hezbollah’s conversations and could also be used as bombs in a crisis situation.
In 2023, a marketing executive unknowingly offered Hezbollah Taiwanese-branded Apollo pagers that were assembled in Israel under Mossad oversight and contained a minuscule amount of a powerful explosive. The pagers were designed so that two buttons had to be pushed to set off the explosion, ensuring that both hands would be injured.
Current Travel Restrictions
Travel restrictions continue in the region due to escalating tensions. Emirates recently announced that flights to Lebanon will be suspended until Oct. 15 as Israel intensifies attacks against Hezbollah, with some airstrikes nearing Beirut’s airport.
- Flights to Iran and Iraq will remain suspended until Tuesday.
- There are high expectations that Israel will retaliate against Tehran for the recent missile attacks.
- A Middle East security expert predicts that the Israel-Iran conflict will be a long-term issue.
“I think the question is simply going to be how often is the tit for tat going to happen, and is it just going to be tit for tat, or is this going to escalate only further,” said Carmiel Arbit, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Middle East programs, during an interview with Bloomberg TV. “And I think the hope of the international community at this point is to avert a World War III rather than this smaller-scale war of attrition.”
As the situation unfolds, travelers are urged to stay updated with the latest advisories and adjust their plans accordingly.
