Flights over the Middle East had to abandon their journeys yesterday after Iran launched a missile attack against Israel.

The airspace above Iran, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and other countries in the region was closed, causing airlines to change their flight paths to keep passengers and crew safe.

European leaders have condemned Iran’s attack and tensions are high as the world waits to see how Israel will respond.

Which airlines diverted flights to avoid Middle East airspace?

In total, 81 flights were diverted by 16 airlines on Tuesday.

As you would expect Middle Eastern airlines diverted the most flights, with Qatar Airways and Emirates leading the pack. Istanbul airport was the worst affected airport, with 19 flights diverted.

According to FlightRadar24, at least three flights operated by German carrier Lufthansa on the way India and Dubai turned around before reaching Iranian airspace. Their journeys back to Europe extended flight times by up to eight hours.

Another flight operated by Swiss from Zurich to Dubai diverted to Antalya, Turkey, shortly before it would have crossed into Iran, FlightRadar24 shows.

The flight-tracking website also showed several Emirates flights bound for Dubai were impacted. The airline told AirlineGeeks that it was diverting some flights and cancelling others.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and are making all efforts to ensure minimal disruption to customers while assisting those impacted,” a spokesperson said.

A British Airways flight from London to Dubai, a Royal Jordanian Airlines flight from Paris to Amman, and an Israeli airline El Al flight from Rhodes, Greece, to Tel Aviv were all diverted to Larnaca, Cyprus, FlightRadar data shows.

British Airways told Business Insider, “Safety and security are always our highest priorities, and we continuously assess and adjust our operations accordingly.”

Where in the Middle East is airspace currently closed?

Throughout the day, some restrictions were lifted, FlightRadar24 said.

Jordan and Iraq reopened to flights late on Tuesday local time, though few were passing through the region.

Iran’s has extended the closure of their airspace in anticipation of Israeli’s retaliation for their attack. Follow Euronews’ live coverage of unfolding events here.

How are travellers affected by Middle East airspace closures?

Many European and Asian airlines fly over the Middle East on their way between a number of popular destinations and have expressed concerns that the necessary rerouting will prolong flight times and add to fuel costs.

Airspaces throughout the region are often plagued by risks and complexities due to ongoing conflicts.

Iran’s airspace is one of the most frequently used by airlines travelling between Europe and India or Southeast Asia.

At the start of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza in 7 October 2023, airlines were forced to cancel or change the routes of flights through and around Tel Aviv. That situation has been monitored closely since.

Ongoing airspace closures could see airlines add hours of flight time to circumvent Iran and Israel to reach places in Europe, the Middle East, India, and beyond – similar to what happened after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Airlines like Japan Airlines, British Airways, and Finnair added up to four hours of flight time to avoid the Kremlin’s airspace on flights between Asia and Europe amid Russian airspace closures and sanctions.

Although it is impossible to find out what route your flight will take ahead of time, you can monitor the flight paths of the same flight on previous days. This may give you some clues as to whether your flight is likely to be diverted or take longer than usual.

As always, check the status of your flight via your airline’s website or app before heading to the airport.

Milan Bergamo airport – also known as Orio al Serio and serving the Italian city of Bergamo – endured a day of chaos on Tuesday, following an incident involving a Ryanair flight arriving from Barcelona El Prat.

The plane was landing at 07.55 am local time when the four tyres of the rear undercarriage burst, leaving it stuck on the runway.

The incident however did not affect the landing manoeuvre or cause any particular problems on board, airport authorities said.

However, it damaged the runway, forcing urgent reparation works.

A statement issued later during the day said operations at the airport were expected to resume at 06.00 pm local time.

Milan Bergamo airport: Where are flights diverted to and when will the airport reopen?

The airport’s website showed all flights until midnight tonight (Tuesday 1 October) as either delayed, cancelled or diverted. Check your flight’s status here.

Some departing flights appeared to be delayed until 2pm local time, implying the airport was hoping to be operational by this time.

If you are due to fly into or out of Bergamo airport, it is best to check your flight’s status before heading to the airport.

Where are Bergamo flights being diverted to?

Bergamo is a city and province 1-hour’s drive north-east of Milan.

The nearest airports to Bergamo Orio Al Serio are Verona, a 1 hour 10 minute drive away, and Milan Malpensa, a 1-hour drive away.

Airlines are required by law to transport passengers to their final destination but it is not yet clear how they are making sure passengers get to their final destination of Bergamo.

What happened with the Ryanair flight?

SACBO said the Ryanair flight arrived from Barcelona El Prat at 07.55 local time.

Firefighters arrived shortly after and evacuated all 161 passengers and the crew. No one was injured.

“The tyre blowout caused 450 meters of damage to the runway,” said SACBO.

The reparation works were aiming to fix the pavement, which was nicked to a depth “of about one centimetre”.

A Marseille neighbourhood has been crowned the “coolest in the world” in Time Out magazine’s annual ranking.

Licked in graffiti, lined with vintage stores and soundtracked by live music, Notre-Dame-du-Mont was selected for its “rebellious spirit”.

It’s among 38 neighbourhoods identified by Time Out’s global team of on-the-ground writers and editors as the best places to visit right now.

Two other European ‘hoods also made the top 10: Stokes Croft and St Paul’s in Bristol UK (6th place) and Príncipe Real in Lisbon, Portugal (8th place).

What makes Notre-Dame-du-Mont Europe’s coolest neighbourhood?

With its diverse population, rich culture and Mediterranean climate, the port city of Marseille in southern France is cool and chaotic in equal measure.

Once known as the artists’ district, Notre-Dame-du-Mont encapsulates this with its lively restaurants, art galleries and independent shops.

Time Out recommends heading to iconic neighbourhood bakery Pain Pan for brioche before checking out the paintings and sculptures at Galerie Charivari.

Grab a new read at L’Histoire de l’œil bookshop and youth space, paired with coffee from Razzia or a drink on the terrace at Café la Muse.

Cap off your day with dinner at Livingston, which hosts a rotation of chefs in residence, before bedding down at the design-led Mama Shelter hotel.

Marseille is easily reachable from across Europe, with TGV InOui trains linking it with Paris in just three hours. The arrival station, Marseille Saint-Charles, is just over 20 minutes’ walk from Notre-Dame-du-Mont.

Where are Europe’s other coolest neighbourhoods?

Time Out’s list recognises 38 neighbourhoods around the world, ranging from overlooked suburbs to historically cool spots experiencing a renaissance.

It doesn’t all come down to hipster hallmarks like street art and craft breweries: the locales were selected for reflecting the best of the cities’ culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink.

Zabłocie in Kraków, Poland came in 11th place, trumping original hipster hub Kazimierz thanks to its rejuvenated riverside parks and creative eateries paired with landmark sites like Oskar Schindler’s Factory and the brutalist Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAK).

Punavuori in Helsinki, Finland, takes 14th place, with Time Out comparing it to the likes of New York’s Brooklyn or Berlin’s Kreuzberg.

In Berlin itself, though, Friedrichshain (18th place) outshines Kreuzberg, having matured after years of being trampled by tourists seeking out fabled nightclub Berghain and the East Side Gallery.

Back in France, bustling Belleville in Paris comes in 20th place for its vibrant atmosphere and line-up of festivities and carnivals.

In the UK, Strathbungo in Glasgow (22nd place) and Leyton in London (24th place) are where it’s at, while in Dublin, Ireland, Inchicore takes 25th place.

Portugal gains another entry with Bonfim, Porto, in 30th place, followed by Hungary’s Palace District in Budapest (31st place).