The Iran conflict triggered some of the longest-ever flights to nowhere, with 2 planes returning to their bases after 16 hours

An Emirates Airbus A380, like the one that returned to Auckland.

Mike Campbell/NurPhoto via Getty Images

• Strikes on Iran disrupted one of the world's busiest flight corridors.
• Two jets returned to their origins after nearly 16 hours.
• An American Airlines plane went back to Philadelphia, and an Emirates A380 to New Zealand.

Two airplanes flew for nearly 16 hours only to end up back where they started, as the conflict with Iran upended air travel.

Flights...