Stranded passengers, such as J. Fernandes from Goa, were scheduled to return to work in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. He said, ‘If this conflict continues, I could lose my job.
Hundreds of Indian passengers have been anxiously waiting at airports across India since Saturday to board flights that would take them back to their workplaces in the Middle East, as regional airspace closures and cancellations continue to disrupt travel.
Among the stranded passengers is J. Fernandes from Siolim, a small village in Goa, who was scheduled to return to work in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. He had come home briefly to complete urgent personal work but is now uncertain when he can resume his job. “If this conflict lasts longer, it could also result in job loss for migrant workers like me,” he told Indian media.
Another Goan, Thomas D’Souza, who had returned home from the Gulf following his mother’s death, is equally concerned about the future. He admitted that he might lose his job if he is unable to return on time, especially if the conflict is prolonged.
Similar scenes of distressed passengers anxious about the ongoing war in the Middle East and their disrupted flights were evident across India on Sunday. The situation worsened as the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation announced further flight cancellations due to airspace restrictions. Airports from Chandigarh to Chennai and Mumbai to Kolkata were crowded with travelers trying to catch international flights.
R. Sandeep, a London resident on extended leave, said he was “in big trouble” as he was due to resume work by Monday. A Rajasthan resident, scheduled to fly to Lebanon from Delhi over the weekend, added, “I have no clue what to do.”
Meanwhile, some passengers planning holidays in the UAE worried that their hotel and flight bookings would go to waste, potentially causing significant financial losses. Travelers on long-haul flights to the US and Europe also shared frustrations over flight cancellations and poor communication. “We were trying to fly back to the US, and our flight got cancelled. We did not get any information regarding our flight cancellation. We have not received any messages. We’ve been here for almost an hour now,” one passenger said.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has stepped in to assist stranded foreign nationals, advising them to contact the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office to extend visas or regularize their stay. “All foreign nationals in India, who have had to change their travel plans due to the ongoing developments in the West Asia region and need assistance with extension of their visa or to regularise their stay, are requested to contact the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office,” the ministry said.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier instructed airlines to avoid the airspace of nearly a dozen countries affected by the conflict, including Iran, Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. All Indian carriers operating flights to the Middle East—including Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet—have suspended operations. Many airports also informed passengers about the cancellations.
