Stranded Indian travellers began returning home as flights slowly resumed following widespread airspace disruptions linked to the US–Israel confrontation with Iran…reports Asian Lite News
Several Indian passengers arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Thursday after days of disruption to flights triggered by the escalating US–Israel confrontation with Iran. Airspace closures and cancellations across parts of West Asia forced airlines to suspend or reroute services, leaving many travellers stranded in transit hubs and secondary airports before they could return to India.
Passengers arriving at the airport said they had taken longer routes through cities such as Fujairah and Dammam after repeated cancellations of direct flights from major Gulf hubs, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Travellers returning from various parts of the Middle East and Europe described tense conditions during the disruptions, with some reporting witnessing or hearing missile intercepts and explosions during the period of heightened regional tensions.
One passenger who arrived in New Delhi after travelling via Fujairah said he had been in Dubai for work when the situation began to deteriorate.
“I went to Dubai for work; the situation is a bit tense. Yesterday, there was an attack on the US Consulate… We were scared… We came from Fujairah because flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi were getting cancelled repeatedly… We are thankful to the airlines and the Indian government; they are helping us come back.”
Another traveller, who arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport from Dammam, said he had originally planned to return from London but was stranded in Bahrain for several days as flights were disrupted.
“My flight was supposed to come from London, but I was stuck in Bahrain, so after being stuck in Bahrain for five days, I am coming from Dammam. Interceptions were going on… From the airport itself, you could see the attacks… Due to that, we were given a hotel by the airline and all of us passengers were staying there… Whenever there were interceptions or missile attacks, we could hear all that from our hotel.”
Other passengers also described similar experiences of uncertainty and anxiety while waiting for alternative flights.
One traveller returning from Romania said he had been delayed during a stopover in Bahrain as the security situation deteriorated and airspace restrictions took effect.
“I am coming from Romania but have a stop at Bahrain. I was stuck there for three days… Whenever there was an explosion, we used to feel the vibration inside the hotels. There is a complete atmosphere of fear there.”
Airlines across the region had suspended or rerouted services after several countries temporarily closed or restricted their airspace following military exchanges linked to the confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran. The disruptions affected major aviation routes that pass through the Gulf and West Asia, which serve as key transit corridors for passengers travelling between Europe, Asia and India.
Indian diplomatic missions in the Gulf region said they were assisting travellers affected by the disruption.
The Embassy of India in Kuwait said it remained engaged in supporting Indian nationals stranded due to the temporary shutdown of airspace in parts of the region.
In a post on X, the embassy said: “Embassy @indembkwt remains fully engaged in assisting Indian passengers stranded in Kuwait due to the temporary shutdown of airspace. Embassy officials are in regular contact with the stranded passengers, and are closely liaising with Kuwaiti authorities, managements of the respective hotels and airlines.”
Authorities and airlines have been working to help stranded passengers find alternative routes as flight operations gradually stabilise, although travellers said delays and diversions continue to affect journeys across the region.
