225 Stranded Passengers from UAE Arrive in Mumbai

On March 2, 2023, 225 passengers stranded in the UAE landed at Mumbai Airport as flight operations continue to be disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The conflict has led to mass flight cancellations, with around 180 flights canceled across three major Indian airports—Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.

Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet are resuming operations to assist stranded travelers, with SpiceJet planning multiple special flights to support passenger travel. The situation has arisen from airspace closures triggered by escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran.

The International Maritime Organization reported that around 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise ship passengers are also stranded in the Gulf region. Air India announced plans to commence scheduled operations to Jeddah from Delhi and Mumbai starting March 5, 2023, while Qatar Airways and Emirates have extended their flight suspensions until March 7, 2023.