Emirates Bans Pagers, Walkie-Talkies After Hezbollah Attacks
By
OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
Dubai’s Emirates Airlines has banned passengers from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on its flights, after last month’s attacks on Lebanese group Hezbollah involving communication devices that exploded.
“All passengers traveling to, from, or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie-talkies in checked or cabin baggage,” the airline said in a statement on its website Friday. It added that any prohibited items found will be confiscated by Dubai Police as part of heightened security measures.
In the deadly September attacks, thousands of booby-trapped Hezbollah pagers and hundreds of radios exploded, attacks which were blamed on Israel but it has not been claimed.
The Middle East’s largest airline also announced that flights to Iraq and Iran will remain suspended until Tuesday, while services to Jordan will resume on Sunday.
Flights to Lebanon will remain suspended until Oct. 15 due to escalating Israeli attacks against Iran-backed Hezbollah, including strikes near Beirut’s airport.
Many other airlines have also suspended flights to Beirut and other regional airports due to heightened tensions.
