Iranian strikes on Qatar disrupt flights for thousands
Almost 100 flights to destinations across the Middle East were diverted because of the Iranian attack on a US military base in Qatar on Monday afternoon.
While an 'eerie calm' took hold at the main airport in the Qatari capital of Doha as the skies were closed to all civilian flights, thousands of others were finding themselves scattered across a variety of safe havens.
At least seven Qatar Airways flights from the UK to Doha – having left from airports including Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh – were diverted in-flight as a result of the missile attacks.
One, from Edinburgh to Doha, was diverted to Istanbul. Another ended up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while a third from Heathrow turned back over Italy.
Other airlines were also severely affected, with flight-tracking website AirNav Radar estimating that 91 international flights scheduled to pass through Qatari airspace had been diverted.
Meanwhile, a large number of people were marooned in Doha as a result of the country's authorities closing its skies to scheduled flights.
One passenger, who identified himself only as Jai, said there was an 'eerie calm' at the Qatari airport as the Iranian attack took place.
'Nothing being advised'
He said: 'No communication other than travellers discussing amongst each other. Nothing being advised to travellers by airlines. Boards still reading as 'Go to gate' and 'Now boarding' despite not being the case.
'Workers say that things are chaotic outside of the airport.'
Travellers were urged to check before attempting to head to Middle Eastern destinations, or boarding flights that pass over the region.
Julia Lo-Bue Said, the chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership association of travel agents, said: 'This is an evolving and fast-moving situation, and we recognise that it is likely to cause some consumer anxiety surrounding travelling to the region and for those already there.
'Travellers who have booked trips to the Middle East through a travel agent should get in touch also with the agent and airline, who will be best placed to offer the latest up-to-date guidance.'
Advice for travellers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, last updated on Monday morning before the strikes, said: 'There is a possibility of travel disruption, including short-notice airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights and other unanticipated travel impacts.'
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