Indian nationals arrive safely amid flight chaos even as Israel–Iran war disrupts air travel

A passenger is greeted by a family member upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi after returning from Abu Dhabi.

The conflict between Israel and Iran has caused major disruptions in Middle East airspace, leading to the cancellation and rerouting of thousands of international flights worldwide.

However, a handful of international flights from the Gulf region managed to depart, bringing relief to travellers stuck in the region.

Indian passengers on flights from Gulf hubs such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai have landed safely here,  with families expressing relief at their arrival amid ongoing tensions.

As many as 217 stranded Indian passengers returned from Dubai on a special Emirates flight and landed at the Chennai airport early Tuesday. Etihad Airways also brought passengers stranded in Abu Dhabi to New Delhi.

On Monday,  Emirates had issued a statement saying it will begin operating a limited number of flights commencing on the evening of March 2.

VIDEO | Chennai: 217 stranded Indian passengers return from Dubai on special Emirates flight.#IranIsraelWar#Dubai

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/iZmPFfpS5H — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 3, 2026

"We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates," said the airline.

Indian passengers stranded in Abu Dhabi also landed at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru early Tuesday.

VIDEO | Iran-Israel conflict: Indian citizens, who were stranded in Abu Dhabi, arrive at Kempegowda airport, Bengaluru. A returnee says, “I see war. It's a tickling feeling for us. I've never experienced these things. My dream was to join the Indian Army. But when I saw this… pic.twitter.com/108g8LnDjq — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 2, 2026

Meanwhile, Air India released a statement saying it will resume flight operations to and from Muscat from Tuesday (March 3). However, flights to and from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will remain suspended on Tuesday.

Air India advised guests to check their flight status and ensure contact details are updated in their PNR for the latest notifications.

Akasa Air too issued a statement saying that following a comprehensive safety review, it will operate select flights to and from Jeddah on March 3 and March 4. The flights will arrive or depart from Mumbai and Ahmedabad. However, it said flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, and Riyadh will remain suspended until March 4.

What is the airspace situation in other Gulf regions?  

Bahrain- Bahrain’s airspace is currently closed to commercial flights due to the escalating conflict and precautionary safety measures taken by civil aviation authorities. Iranian strikes hit Mina Salman port and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, causing smoke and explosions. At least one person was killed.

Kuwait-Kuwait’s airspace is reportedly closed to civilian flights as part of wider regional airspace shutdowns following the Israel–Iran conflict escalation. Civil aviation authorities have suspended flights in and out of Kuwait, and airlines have either cancelled or temporarily halted operations involving Kuwait destinations. The airspace has been closed after installations of the US Air Force was attacked in Kuwait.

Qatar-Qatar’s airspace is currently closed to commercial flights as part of safety precautions taken in response to the conflict and regional instability. Qatar downed two Iranian bombers as Tehran widened its attacks to hit oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.  in a sharply escalating Gulf crisis that has sent prices soaring.

Saudi Arabia- Although the airspace here is operational, many airlines have suspended flights to Saudi destinations (e.g., Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam) due to wider regional airspace closures and safety concerns. Several carriers have cancelled or paused services at Saudi airports until the situation stabilises. Airlines are taking precaution, especially after Iranian drones hit an oil refinery of Saudi Aramco and the US embassy in Riyadh.

Oman- Oman’s airspace has also faced restrictions and disruptions as part of the broader closure of Gulf and Middle Eastern airspace after the Israel–Iran conflict escalated. The Muscat International Airport (MCT) and the surrounding airspace have experienced flight cancellations, diversions, and delays due to these regional closures. Two drones targeted facilities at Duqm Port, injuring one worker.