Dubai’s Emirates Airlines has become the first major airline outside Lebanon to ban passengers from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on its flights. This comes after a series of deadly attacks in Beirut last month, where electronic devices like pagers were turned into bombs.
In a statement on its website, Emirates announced that passengers traveling to, from, or through Dubai are not allowed to bring pagers or walkie-talkies in their checked luggage or carry-on bags. Any such items found will be confiscated by Dubai Police as part of new security measures.
The attacks in Beirut, which took place on September 17 and 18, were terrifying. It’s believed that Israeli intelligence was behind them, manipulating pagers and walkie-talkies during shipping. Small explosives were hidden inside the devices, and they were triggered remotely, killing at least 42 people and injuring over 3,500. Among the victims were 12 civilians, including children. These attacks were allegedly aimed at disrupting Hezbollah, a powerful group in Lebanon, but innocent people were caught in the crossfire.
One of the biggest fears after the attack was the possibility that more booby-trapped pagers could be in circulation. The idea that someone could unknowingly carry one of these dangerous devices onto a plane is chilling. Emirates’ decision to ban them may be an effort to prevent any such disaster in the skies.
Emirates is the largest airline in the Middle East and one of many global carriers that have suspended flights to and from Beirut due to the ongoing conflict. Currently, flights to Iraq and Iran are also halted, with services to Jordan set to resume soon.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued heavy airstrikes in Beirut, not just targeting Hezbollah-controlled areas but also hitting central parts of the city. In one recent attack, Israel destroyed the primary border crossing between Lebanon and Syria at Masnaa, forcing displaced refugees to navigate dangerous, mountainous terrain to cross into Syria.
As tensions in the region remain high, Emirates’ move to ban pagers and walkie-talkies is likely to be just the beginning. Other airlines may follow suit as they work to protect their passengers from potential new threats.
