British Airways flight returns to Chennai after Middle East airspace closure amid US-Iran tensions
Flight BA276, a Boeing 777, departed Chennai at 6.24 a.m. -- nearly an hour behind its scheduled time of 5.35 a.m. -- with 247 passengers and 15 crew members on board.
The aircraft had crossed Bengaluru and was cruising over the Arabian Sea when the pilot received urgent information that key portions of Middle Eastern airspace had been shut down, rendering the planned flight path to London impassable.
The airspace closure reportedly followed the US military strikes on Iranian targets overnight, prompting regional authorities to halt civilian overflights as a precaution.
Upon receiving the alert, the flight crew immediately contacted both Chennai and London air traffic control centres. After swift consultations and prioritising passenger safety, authorities instructed the aircraft to return to Chennai.
The plane landed safely at Chennai International Airport at around 10.00 a.m. and was directed to a remote bay for passenger disembarkation.
All 262 people on board -- passengers and crew -- were reported safe.
The airport officials confirmed that temporary arrangements were made to accommodate passengers in lounges and nearby hotels across the city.
British Airways issued a statement confirming the aircraft's return and said it was 'assessing available options for onward travel.'
'Passenger safety remains our top priority,' the airline said, adding that further updates would be shared once alternative routes were confirmed or once the affected airspace reopens.
The unexpected return created a flurry of activity at the airport, with passengers expressing confusion and concern over the delay.
Several flights from Chennai to Gulf destinations were also delayed in the wake of the regional airspace shutdown.
Flights bound for Kuwait, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi faced significant delays.
A Kuwait Airways flight, originally scheduled to depart at 03.30 a.m., eventually took off at 05.40 a.m. Similarly, a Qatar Airways flight to Doha and an Emirates flight to Dubai were each delayed by nearly an hour.
This incident marks the latest disruption in international air travel caused by the growing unrest in the Middle East, raising concerns about further delays and reroutings in the coming days.
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Interchangeable Usage: In popular usage, especially outside India, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably because of the close culinary and cultural connections. Irani and Parsi cafés share a common Zoroastrian heritage and many culinary traditions but stem from different migration histories and cultural backgrounds. Their cafés have together contributed richly to India's urban food culture, especially in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad. 'While the Irani café culture originated with Zoroastrian Iranian immigrants in 19th-century India, today's Irani chefs blend traditional Persian flavors with modern culinary techniques, keeping the heritage alive in contemporary settings.' Irani Chai-Hyderabad's liquid heritage In the early hours, when the city of Hyderabad is still asleep, the copper samovars of Irani cafés come alive with the aroma of crisp bun-maska and aromatic chai filling up the streets. There is something really unique about the milky Irani tea that it has continued to hold ground in cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai despite the world witnessing a dramatic change in beverage culture. From the first Irani immigrants who carried their recipes across the Arabian Sea to the marble-topped tables where generations have gathered, this chai is a testament to endurance, community, and the art of taking pause in a restless city. The chai is almost always served in a white Bone China cup or a transparent 'cutting' glass and smells divine due to the infusion of spices like cinnamon and cardamom. Old-timers in the city will tell you the story of how this tradition arrived. In the late 1800s, waves of Zoroastrian and Muslim Iranians left Yazd and Kerman in Iran, escaping hardship and looking for opportunity. They brought little with them—perhaps a handful of family recipes and the memory of how chai should taste on a cold morning. 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