Passengers scheduled to travel on RwandAir flight WB305 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Kigali, Rwanda, were stranded at Dubai International Airport after their flight was initially delayed and later suspended due to a reported technical issue with the aircraft.
On the morning of Sunday, October 11, 2026, passengers were scheduled to depart Dubai at 1:50 a.m. local time. However, after reaching the aircraft, they were informed that boarding could not proceed because of a technical problem.
A RwandAir staff member at the airport explained to passengers that the aircraft had experienced a technical issue, prompting the suspension of boarding.
Passengers were directed back to the waiting area while the aircraft remained parked at the airport.
By the time Umunota published this report, the passengers had been waiting for nine hours without receiving detailed information about the cause of the suspension or when they might be able to depart.
Some passengers subsequently began looking for accommodation while awaiting the resumption of their journey. They included people who live in Dubai and others holding multiple-entry visas that allow them to enter the country repeatedly.
Information obtained by Umunota indicates that efforts were underway to assist the affected passengers. If there were no further changes, the flight was expected to depart at 6:00 p.m. Dubai time, equivalent to 4:00 p.m. in Kigali.
Questions Over Possible Links to Middle East Security Concerns
The suspension has raised questions about whether it could be linked to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.
The disruption comes amid continued security concerns in the region, where military operations and attacks have raised fears about the safety of air travel.
Reports circulating in the media indicate that a missile attack targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last night.
Al Jazeera reported that the attack killed 12 people, including an American national, while more than 300 others were injured.
There have also been reports of security-related disruptions affecting some flights connecting Dubai with other destinations in the Middle East.
These developments have prompted questions about whether the suspension of RwandAir flight WB305 to Kigali could be connected to the regional security situation, although passengers were told that the aircraft had experienced a technical problem.
So far, there is no confirmed evidence linking the suspension of the flight to the security situation in the region.
Umunota attempted to contact RwandAir management to establish the precise reason for the suspension and determine what measures were being taken to assist the stranded passengers, but the airline’s officials could not be reached by telephone.
RwandAir Previously Suspended Flights to the Region
In the past, amid worsening security conditions in the Middle East, RwandAir announced the temporary suspension of some flights to the region.
The affected routes included flights between Kigali and Doha (WB300/WB303 and WB302/WB301), flights connecting Kigali with Dubai International Airport (WB304/WB305), and services to Dubai World Central (DWC) and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ).
At the time, the suspensions were linked to security concerns affecting air travel in the region amid the war between Iran and the United States.
Umunota will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
