First Flight from Dubai to West Coast Lands at SFO Amid Iran War

Passengers recount scenes of war as they reunite with loved ones at San Francisco airport

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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San Francisco International Airport welcomed its first non-stop Emirates flight from the Middle East since the start of the Iran war. Several travelers described tense days sheltering, hearing distant explosions, and uncertainty about when they could return home. For some Dubai residents, the idea of returning to the Middle East brought no hesitation, with one saying 'the civilians are so safe' and 'we are very well taken care of'.

Why it matters

The joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign, Operation Epic Fury, has escalated into a full-scale conflict to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure and achieve regime change. The arrival of this first flight from Dubai to the West Coast highlights the human impact of the ongoing war, with passengers recounting scenes of conflict and uncertainty.

The details

Travelers like Heather Doherty of Alameda and Susan Daley from Chicago described their ordeals, with Doherty saying she 'spent the first night huddled on the floor next to my bed, worried about the windows exploding' and Daley saying 'the bombing started, so we went back to the hotel, and at that point, we were sheltering in place, locked down, doing whatever they told us to do.' However, Dubai residents Jeyaram and Jayant Deshpande expressed confidence in their safety, with Venkatesh Jeyaram saying 'the civilians are so safe' and 'we are very well taken care of'.

  • On March 5, 2026, the strikes have reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and devastated the Iranian Navy, while Tehran has retaliated with massive missile and drone barrages against U.S. bases and allies across the Persian Gulf.
  • Thursday marked long-awaited reunions as passengers from Dubai finally embraced their loved ones at San Francisco International Airport.

The players

Heather Doherty

A traveler from Alameda, California who was stranded in Dubai during the conflict.

Susan Daley

A traveler from Chicago who was also in the Middle East for work and described her experience of sheltering in place.

Venkatesh Jeyaram

A Dubai resident who expressed confidence in the safety of civilians in the region.

Operation Epic Fury

The joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure and achieve regime change.

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What they’re saying

“I couldn't be more relieved to be home. It was five days of uncertainty, but I'm thrilled to be back on American soil.”

— Heather Doherty (ABC7 Eyewitness News)

“I spent the first night huddled on the floor next to my bed, worried about the windows exploding — so you hear alerts going off, you hear explosions in the sky.”

— Heather Doherty (ABC7 Eyewitness News)

“We had a lovely lunch, then the bombing started, so we went back to the hotel, and at that point, we were sheltering in place, locked down, doing whatever they told us to do.”

— Susan Daley (ABC7 Eyewitness News)

“The civilians are so safe. We are very well taken care of. I'm absolutely not worried about going back to Dubai.”

— Venkatesh Jeyaram (ABC7 Eyewitness News)

The takeaway

The arrival of this first flight from Dubai to the West Coast amid the ongoing Iran war highlights the human impact of the conflict, with passengers recounting scenes of uncertainty and violence, while some Dubai residents express confidence in their safety. This underscores the complex and evolving situation in the region.