The Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, it is arranging special flights and other assistance to bring back Indian passengers stranded in West Asia after regional airspace closures disrupted commercial services. Several carriers — including IndiGo, Air India, Emirates, flydubai and Etihad — have begun limited or dedicated services in the last 48 hours to repatriate travellers from hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah.
In an official statement carried by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, authorities said: “The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of the Middle East and its impact on international flight operations. Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers.” The statement said the ministry is coordinating with airlines and foreign authorities to prioritise Indian nationals.
IndiGo announced on March 2 that it will operate four dedicated flights from Jeddah to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad beginning March 3, 2026, as part of efforts to normalise operations between Saudi Arabia and India. At the same time, the carrier cancelled 43 services to and from West Asia on Tuesday amid the ongoing disruptions. Air India has offered full refunds or free rescheduling for passengers who booked travel to West Asian destinations on or before February 28, 2026.
Etihad resumed limited operations from Abu Dhabi on Monday, March 2, 2026, with its first passenger service — EY67 to London Heathrow — departing Zayed International Airport at 2:39 pm local time (11:39 am CET), according to flight-tracking data. Flightradar24 showed additional departures from Abu Dhabi to London, Paris, Amsterdam and Moscow as airlines cautiously restored some routes.
Flight operations were largely suspended after airspace closures began on Saturday, February 28, 2026, following a bout of strikes and military activity in the region. In the early hours of February 28, airstrikes and military operations were reported against multiple Iranian cities; Iran then launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, with reported impacts in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait. Authorities in several jurisdictions closed airports as a precaution, and more than 100 international flights were cancelled on Sunday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
The situation remains fluid; the ministry and carriers say they are prioritising the safe and orderly return of passengers and will update schedules as airspace conditions allow.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/govt-deploys-special-flights-to-bring-back-stranded-indian-passengers-as-tensions-escalate-in-west-asia-13985618.html
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Publish Date: 2026-03-03 07:37:00
