Doctor Stranded in Qatar Amid Iran-U.S. Conflict Traveled 62 Hours to Get Home

Dr. Jay Miller had to take matters into his own hands to get back to the U.S. after his flight was diverted due to the escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Dr. Jay Miller was on his way home to New Orleans from a family vacation in India when his Qatar Airlines flight made an unexpected U-turn due to the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Stranded in Qatar, Miller had to travel across four countries over 62 hours to finally make it back home, as the U.S. State Department did not offer relocation assistance to Americans abroad.

Why it matters

The situation highlights the challenges faced by thousands of Americans who were traveling in the Middle East when the U.S.-Iran conflict broke out, with the State Department initially not offering much assistance to help stranded citizens return home. Miller's experience underscores the need for better emergency planning and support for U.S. citizens abroad during times of international crises.

The details

After his Qatar Airlines flight made a U-turn, Miller said the scene "looked like the 4th of July" with airstrikes igniting over the Persian Gulf. To get home, Miller and his wife booked a flight departing from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the closest operating airport. Miller had to hire three drivers to travel nine hours to Riyadh, at a cost of around $3,000. At the airport, most departing flights were canceled, but Miller was able to board a packed Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From there, he had a 15-hour layover before catching a flight to Chicago, and then finally a United Airlines flight directly to New Orleans.

  • On February 28, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. was taking "massive and ongoing" military action against Iran.
  • On March 10, the State Department approved up to $40 million in emergency funds for Americans to leave the Middle East during the conflict.
  • About a week after his initial flight, Dr. Miller finally arrived back home in New Orleans.

The players

Dr. Jay Miller

A pulmonary specialist from New Orleans who was stranded in Qatar while trying to return home from a family vacation in India.

Swathi Narra

Dr. Miller's wife, who was still in India with the couple's daughter when the conflict broke out.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who announced the U.S. was taking "massive and ongoing" military action against Iran on February 28.

David Dweck

A Florida resident who was in Israel when the conflict broke out and called the State Department for assistance, but was told the U.S. government could not help with emergency departures.

U.S. State Department

The government agency that initially did not offer relocation assistance to Americans abroad, leaving thousands stranded in the Middle East, but later approved up to $40 million in emergency funds to help Americans leave the region.

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What they’re saying

“This is absolutely terrifying.”

— Dr. Jay Miller (WDSU News)

“I think the American government — with that phone number and everything else — they need to step up and do a better job to get people home.”

— David Dweck, Florida resident (PEOPLE)

“one of the moments when you tell your spouse you love them, which I did.”

— Dr. Jay Miller (The New York Times)

What’s next

The State Department has said it has assisted over 40,000 American citizens in returning to the U.S. from the Middle East since the conflict began, and has approved up to $40 million in emergency funds to help with departures. However, the experiences of stranded Americans like Dr. Miller and David Dweck suggest there is still room for improvement in the government's emergency response and support for citizens abroad during international crises.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the need for better emergency planning and support from the U.S. government to assist American citizens who find themselves stranded abroad during times of international conflict or crisis. The initial lack of assistance left thousands of travelers, like Dr. Miller, to fend for themselves and take risky measures to return home safely.