Frustrated and anxious travelers searched Tuesday for any way out of the Middle East and beyond as the widening Iran war choked off commercial air traffic through the region for a fourth straight day, stranding hundreds of thousands of people.
Travel Disrupted Across the Region
What began Saturday with U.S. And Israeli strikes on Iran quickly rippled far beyond the immediate conflict zone. With airspace closed or heavily restricted across much of the Gulf, passengers have been stranded not only in the region but also in cities far from the fighting after their connecting flights were canceled. Odies Turner, a 32-year-old chef from Dallas stuck in Doha, Qatar, expressed the frustration of many, stating, “They say ‘Get out,’ but how do you expect us to get out when airspaces are closed?”
The U.S. Told American citizens to leave more than a dozen countries in the region – including Iran and Israel, as well as Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen – using any available commercial transportation. However, commercial options remained limited.
Repatriation Efforts Underway
The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it was “actively securing” military and charter aircraft to fly Americans out of the region and was in contact with nearly 3,000 citizens seeking assistance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that assistance would “take a little time since we don’t control the airspace closures,” but urged stranded Americans to contact the State Department: “We need to know who you are.”
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee stated the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem was “not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel,” but provided information about an Israeli government shuttle bus to Egypt. Israel’s airspace has been closed since Saturday, though some land crossings remain open.
El Al, Israel’s flag carrier, is launching a “recovery operation,” and Ben-Gurion Airport is preparing to gradually reopen for limited incoming flights starting Thursday, allowing approximately 5,000 people to enter. Australia is arranging a commercial flight from Dubai to Sydney to repatriate 24,000 Australians stranded in the UAE, calling it a “consular crisis” unlike any the country has faced in terms of scale.
Ongoing Uncertainty and Limited Options
Travelers across the Middle East are waiting in terminals and hotels, or staying inside due to airstrikes. Some cruise passengers are unable to disembark or reroute because ships cannot sail through the Strait of Hormuz. Matt Carwell, an American staying in Dubai, described hearing a “boom” and seeing a fighter jet overhead while speaking with the Associated Press.
Airspace across Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained shut Tuesday, according to Flightradar24. The UAE declared its airspace partially closed, and Jordan suspended flights daily. Oman’s airspace remained open, and Saudi Arabia kept most of its airspace operating, making Muscat and Riyadh key staging points for repatriation efforts.
Some travelers are reportedly paying large sums for luxury flights to Europe, traveling overland to Muscat or Riyadh to reach safe airports. Emirates and Etihad operated limited repatriation flights Tuesday.
Mariana Muicaru, a Romanian pilgrim stranded in Israel, described watching rockets and eventually reaching Bucharest on Tuesday. Passengers arriving in Frankfurt, Germany, from Dubai expressed relief at being home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries is the U.S. Advising citizens to leave?
The U.S. Is advising American citizens to leave Iran and Israel, as well as Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
How many flights have been canceled due to the conflict?
More than 19,000 of the roughly 51,600 flights scheduled into and out of the Middle East between the start of the war and Friday have been canceled.
Is Israel’s airspace completely closed?
Israel’s airspace has been closed since Saturday, even though some land crossings remain open. Ben-Gurion Airport is preparing to gradually reopen for limited incoming flights starting Thursday.
As the conflict continues, will conditions allow for the safe and efficient evacuation of those stranded in the region?
