Etihad Airways canceled two scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain on Thursday after one of its aircraft returned to Abu Dhabi following disruptions in Bahrain amid escalating regional tensions.
Flight EY647, which departed Zayed International Airport for Bahrain International Airport early Thursday, turned back before reaching its destination.
Following the incident, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier canceled the outbound EY647 service and its return flight, EY648, from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi.
In an operational update, Etihad said it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates to affected passengers.
The airline apologized for the disruption, saying the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew remain its highest priority.
Despite the cancellations, Etihad said its remaining scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain were expected to operate as planned.
The disruption came as several airlines adjusted operations across the Middle East amid heightened regional security concerns, with flight tracking data showing delays and diversions involving other carriers operating to and from Bahrain.
