‘No better feeling’: Air India flies 149 stranded passengers to Delhi from Dubai amid escalating West Asia tensions | India News

NEW DELHI: Amid the escalating tension in West Asia, Air India brought back 149 passengers stranded in Dubai to Delhi on Monday.This marked the first international arrival by an Indian carrier into the national capital for the day. “We are happy to welcome our guests and crew from Dubai aboard flight AI916D. This is the first flight by an Indian carrier to arrive in New Delhi today with 149 passengers and 8 operating crew members onboard, amid the ongoing situation in the Middle East,” announced Air India newsroom in a post on X.Further mentioning the role of the authorities, it added, “A heartfelt thank you to our teams, the Government of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the local authorities in Dubai for their continued cooperation and for making this homecoming possible.”Further expressing joy on the succesful flight it added, “There’s no better feeling than bringing our guests and crew back home.”Operations at Dubai’s airports are set to partially resume after days of disruption triggered by escalating regional tensions.Dubai Airports announced that limited flight operations would restart on the evening of March 2 (Monday), with select departures permitted from both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). The move comes after widespread cancellations caused by airspace restrictions across parts of the Middle East.The disruption followed US–Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, which prompted Tehran to launch retaliatory drone and missile attacks targeting multiple locations across the region. The ongoing escalations led several countries to temporarily close airspace corridors, grounding flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.As airlines gradually reinstate services, a semblance of normalcy is returning to the UAE’s aviation sector. For thousands of Indian travellers awaiting a chance to return home, the phased reopening offers cautious relief.Authorities, however, have urged passengers to remain vigilant. Travellers have been advised not to head to DXB or DWC unless they have received direct confirmation from their airline regarding a scheduled departure time, as operations remain limited and subject to change.