Hundreds of Travelers Stranded Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict

Flights disrupted, evacuations underway as U.S. and Israel wage war against Iran

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Hundreds of thousands of people have been stranded across the Middle East as the U.S. and Israel's joint war against Iran has led to widespread flight cancellations and airspace closures. Travelers, including tourists, business people, and migrant workers, have shared their firsthand accounts of the disruption, with some finding temporary accommodations and others still waiting to depart.

Why it matters

The conflict in the Middle East has had a significant impact on global travel, with major hubs like airports in the Gulf states being severely disrupted. This has left many travelers, including those on vacation, business trips, and migrant workers, stranded and scrambling to find a way home. The situation highlights the broader geopolitical tensions in the region and the far-reaching consequences of military conflicts.

The details

Travelers have described a chaotic situation, with flights being canceled, airspace closures, and the sound of air defense systems intercepting missiles or drones. Some have found temporary accommodation through initiatives by local vacation-home operators, while others are still waiting for flights to resume. The disruption has affected people from all over the world, including a European couple celebrating a family milestone, a tech entrepreneur, American retirees, and a Hong Kong expatriate living in Dubai.

  • The conflict escalated rapidly in a matter of days, leading to widespread travel disruptions.
  • Many travelers have been stranded since the outbreak of the war.

The players

Viktoriia Lokhmatova

A Serbian woman who traveled to Dubai with her 8-year-old daughter, Anny, to meet her partner's 13-year-old son, Gabriel, and celebrate their birthdays.

Michael Crepin

Viktoriia Lokhmatova's partner, who lives in Belgium and traveled with his 13-year-old son, Gabriel, to Dubai.

Varun Krishnan

An Indian technology entrepreneur who was on a flight from Doha to Barcelona when the aircraft had to turn back due to the closure of Baghdad airspace.

Louise Herrle

A retiree from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who was vacationing in Dubai with her husband when the war broke out.

Agnes Chen Pun

A Hong Kong expatriate living in Dubai with her husband and their 1 1/2-year-old child, who has tried to keep her family safe by moving to different resorts.

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What they’re saying

“We stayed on calls with the airline for almost two days trying to figure out another flight.”

— Viktoriia Lokhmatova (Associated Press)

“It seemed something was off. Breakfast had just been served when the captain announced that Baghdad airspace was closed due to security issues.”

— Varun Krishnan, Tech Entrepreneur (Associated Press)

“It's not a great experience, but it's, you know, a shared experience and it brings people together.”

— Louise Herrle, Retiree (Associated Press)

“We were so nervous, so anxious.”

— Agnes Chen Pun, Hong Kong Expatriate (Associated Press)

“I think the scare, the fears, will be short-term. Definitely now, safety is the most important. I will go to Hong Kong ... wait (until) the war is over, and then I probably, definitely would come back again.”

— Agnes Chen Pun, Hong Kong Expatriate (Associated Press)

What’s next

Many travelers are still waiting for flights to resume and are uncertain about when they will be able to leave the Middle East. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing evacuations and the potential for further disruptions.

The takeaway

The conflict in the Middle East has had a significant impact on global travel, stranding hundreds of thousands of people and highlighting the broader geopolitical tensions in the region. The situation underscores the importance of contingency planning and the need for resilient transportation infrastructure to withstand such disruptions.