Emirates bans pagers, walkie-talkies onboard after Lebanon blasts

Dubai-based airline Emirates has banned pagers and walkie-talkies onboard its planes following sabotage attacks in Lebanon and extended flight cancellations for West Asian destinations due to regional escalation.

“All Passengers traveling on flights to, from, or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie-talkies in checked or cabin baggage,” the carrier said, weeks after a wave of exploding communication devices used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which blamed Israel for the attacks.

In a statement on its website, Emirates said, “Dubai Police will confiscate such items found in passengers’ hand luggage or checked baggage.”

The blasts last month killed at least 37 people and wounded nearly 3,000 across Lebanon.

Emirates, West Asia’s biggest airline, also announced that its Iraq and Iran routes will remain suspended until Tuesday.

The cancellations were first announced in the wake of a major Iranian attack on Israel this week that saw missiles flying over Iraq and Iran.