Iran attack prompts flight cancellations at JFK, across Middle East

The U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran is disrupting flights across the Middle East and beyond.

Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar closed their airspaces on Saturday. Airspace in southern Syria was also closed.

Some planes that were en route to cities like Tel Aviv and Dubai were diverted or returned to where they departed.

As of shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday, 24 flights in and out of Kennedy Airport had been canceled, according to FlightAware. Departing flights to Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel and Dubai International Airport were among the cancellations of flights bound for the Middle East.

There was one cancellation reported at LaGuardia, which serves mostly domestic flights, according to FlightAware's tracker.

The situation is changing quickly and airlines urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Many major airlines are canceling flights to and from parts of the region through Sunday or early next week.

Dubai's airport operator said flights have been halted indefinitely at Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest airport for international flights, and the Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International Airport on the Persian Gulf city's outskirts.

— AP, with Tara Smith