Ahmedabad: A special IndiGo flight carrying nearly 200 Indian passengers landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport late Tuesday night, bringing much-needed relief to families in Gujarat. Many had been anxiously waiting for their loved ones stranded in the Middle East due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
Emotional reunions played out as families embraced their relatives after days of worry. Some had spent sleepless nights fearing for their safety amidst escalating tensions.
The flight took off from Ahmedabad around 12:30 AM on Tuesday, reaching Jeddah before returning home later that same evening. The conflict has severely disrupted air travel across the region, prompting a scramble for evacuation options.
Airport officials confirmed that limited flights resumed between major Indian cities and the Gulf region. In addition to Ahmedabad, IndiGo announced it would operate four dedicated flights from Jeddah on March 3, also servicing Mumbai and Hyderabad.
Other airlines like Air India and Emirates have joined efforts to bring back stranded passengers from various Gulf nations. Earlier on Tuesday, Air India welcomed passengers arriving from Dubai at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi—marking a significant step toward restoring international operations amid ongoing disruptions.
This return of flights follows a temporary halt caused by rising tensions in the area. Limited operations were confirmed to be underway again at both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport since the evening of March 2.