Zurich Airport turned into an unexpected overnight stop for a group of Dubai-bound Emirates passengers, after their flight was delayed due to a technical issue. Flight EK086, scheduled to leave Zurich on July 19, never took off that night, leaving many travelers stranded inside the airport until the following evening.
What made the situation worse was the airport’s closure at 11 pm. Passengers with single-entry Schengen visas couldn’t leave the terminal at all. A few were offered hotel rooms, but many weren’t so lucky. They had to make do with airport benches, cold floors, or any quiet corner they could find. As the lights dimmed for the night, exhaustion set in, and so did the frustration.
One passenger shared her experience in real time on social media. “We literally have nowhere to go,” she posted at 1 am, along with photos of travelers lying across airport chairs with their bags as pillows. “Flight back tomorrow at 8 pm.” Her updates painted a clear picture of what the night was like inside Zurich Airport — quiet, cold, and uncertain. By morning, she wrote, “Hungry, exhausted, and with no clear answers… literally trapped in the airport.”
Emirates confirmed the delay and said it was working to support passengers. The airline provided food, refreshments, and hotel stays “where possible,” but acknowledged that not everyone could leave Zurich Airport due to visa restrictions. In a statement, the airline apologised for the inconvenience and assured passengers that safety remained its top priority.
Eventually, the delayed group boarded the rescheduled flight the next evening. Still, the ordeal highlighted how difficult these situations can become — especially when airport closures and visa limits collide. For the passengers affected, the memory of Zurich Airport won’t be about a scenic stop in Switzerland. But, about a night of waiting, wondering, and trying to stay patient far from home.
