British flight attendant could face 2 years in UAE jail for sharing Dubai airport drone strike video on Whatsapp

The 25-year-old man had forwarded the video of the projectile strike in the WhatsApp group out of fear, to ask if it was safe to walk through the airport.

Published on: Apr 6, 2026, 10:20:18 IST

Written by Shubham Pandey

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A British national, who is a flight attendant, was arrested in the UAE after posting a photo of a drone strike at Dubai airport in a private WhatsApp group. The UAE had issued strict guidelines after the country started receiving attacks from neighbouring Iran, asking residents to adhere to cybercrime laws, warning citizens and visitors that photographing, filming, publishing or circulating images and videos of incident sites could lead to a minimum of one year in prison and fines starting at £20,000.

A smoke plume rises from a fire at Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (AFP)

The 25-year-old airline crew member, according to a Daily Mail report, had forwarded the video of the projectile strike in the WhatsApp group out of fear, to ask if it was safe to walk through the airport. The report said the British man has been held in a crowded, unhygienic jail cell for more than 20 days since his arrest on March 7, the day the airport first came under attack. The number of people detained by police for similar offences since the war began could be as high as 160.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, told the media outlet that two other British nationals are also being held for similar offences, which could be treated as federal crimes against ‘national security’, carrying much harsher sentences. The report added that the British national could face up to two years in jail in the UAE and a £40,000 fine.

Also Read | 5 Indians among 12 injured in Abu Dhabi after falling debris hits Ajban area

Legal battles hard to fight when matter related to national security in UAE

Legal battles are tough to fight for citizens when it comes to matters related to national security in the UAE as lawyers in the country refuse to get involved, said Radha.

"...people are really struggling to get legal representation, and the lawyers that are willing to take it on are charging extortionate amounts, three, four times their usual rates," Radha was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

A total of 10 civilians have lost their lives in the UAE in attacks from Iran, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Defence. The victims were of Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, Indian and Egyptian nationalities. Additionally, 217 people have been injured in the attacks.

Since the war began, the UAE has been facing daily missile and drone attacks launched from Iran. So far, the UAE’s air defence systems have intercepted 507 ballistic missiles, 24 cruise missiles and 2,191 drones.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shubham Pandey
Shubham Pandey works as Chief Content Producer at the Hindustan Times online desk, where he writes news articles, explainers, and features with a focus on audience engagement, traffic growth, and real-time storytelling. With over a decade of experience across journalism, digital newsrooms, and strategic communications, he brings a strong understanding of online journalism, particularly in leveraging SEO, search trends, and live blogs to drive sustained reader engagement. Previously, he led the sports team at Zee News English, strengthening editorial operations while delivering measurable growth in readership. His reporting experience includes assignments with Firstpost, where he covered sports with a strong narrative focus. Shubham has worked across both startups and large media organisations, including building a sports website from the ground up in a startup environment—demonstrating versatility and leadership. His stint as Senior Account Manager at Edelman India further expanded his expertise in strategic communications, brand storytelling, and reputation management. Across roles, he specialises in content planning, writing, and crafting credible narratives for diverse audiences. He has collaborated with former international cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara, Nick Knight, and Danny Morrison to create compelling, high-impact sports content, blending editorial depth with mass appeal. When he is not writing news or watching sports, he enjoys exploring films from around the world.Read More

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