‘Situation is a Bit Tense’: Indian Passengers Return via Fujairah, Dammam Amid West Asia Flight Disruptions

Several Indian passengers arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday amid widespread flight disruptions triggered by the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran over the past few days.

Many were forced to reroute through secondary airports such as Fujairah and Dammam to secure their return to India.

Travellers from different parts of the Middle East and Europe recounted tense moments while speaking to ANI.

Describing the situation, a passenger who arrived from Fujairah said, "I went to Dubai for work; the situation is a bit tense."

Another traveller, who arrived from Dammam after being stranded in Bahrain, said, "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," the passenger added.

A third passenger said, "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."

How Is the Embassy of India in Kuwait Assisting Stranded Indian Passengers During the Airspace Shutdown?

Indian diplomatic missions in the Gulf region have stepped up assistance to stranded nationals following temporary airspace closures in parts of West Asia.

"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," the Embassy of India in Kuwait said, in a post on X.

Amid continuing disruptions, SpiceJet announced the operation of multiple special flights from the United Arab Emirates to India to support passengers and ease connectivity concerns.

The airline said it continues to operate additional services from key UAE cities, including Dubai and Fujairah, to Mumbai and Delhi.

What Special SpiceJet Flights Are Operating From Dubai and Fujairah to Mumbai on March 5?

According to a flight schedule released on X, on March 5, flight SG 9014 will operate from Dubai to Mumbai from 1:55 to 6:25, while SG 9036 will connect Fujairah to Mumbai from 4:20 to 8:30.

Other services from Fujairah to Delhi include SG 9006 from 11:10 to 16:40, SG 9082 from 19:05 to 00:10, and SG 9085 from 14:35 to 19:40.

Additional Fujairah to Mumbai flights on the same day include SG 9087 from 12:30 to 17:00 and SG 9089 from 20:30 to 1:00.

For March 6, departures from Fujairah to Mumbai include SG 9014 from 1:55 to 6:25, SG 9036 from 4:20 to 8:30, SG 9712 from 10:50 to 15:40, SG 9714 from 20:20 to 1:00, SG 9044 from 23:30 to 4:00, SG 9087 from 12:30 to 17:00, and SG 9089 from 20:30 to 1:00.

Services to Delhi include SG 9072 from 0:05 to 5:10, SG 9006 from 11:10 to 16:40, SG 9082 from 21:15 to 2:20, SG 9085 from 12:05 to 17:10, and SG 9073 from 23:05 to 3:55.

On March 7, SG 9014 will operate from Fujairah to Mumbai from 1:15 to 5:25.

How Is Air India Operating Dubai and Jeddah Flights to Bring Back Stranded Passengers?

Air India also announced relief measures for passengers affected by the ongoing situation. The airline is offering complimentary rescheduling or full refunds on cancellation for confirmed bookings made on or before February 28 on flights to and from the Middle East, the United Kingdom and Europe, for travel up to March 10.

Air India said it is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and has begun operating select flights to and from Dubai and Jeddah to bring back stranded passengers, prioritising their safety and well being.

The disruptions follow coordinated airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel across multiple Iranian cities on February 28, targeting military command centres, air defence systems, missile sites and key regime infrastructure.

The strikes resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials, with large explosions reported in Tehran and other major cities.

In response, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, widening the conflict and heightening risks for civilians and expatriates across the Middle East.

(With inputs from ANI)