Forget the war, what about my glam holiday! Brit influencers complain after Iran-Israel crisis sparks travel chaos

The Irish Sun

15 hours ago

FUMING influencers have raged at the spiralling Middle East conflict which has sparked aviation chaos - delaying and diverting hundreds of flights.
Social media users even vented their frustration towards airports and airliners - despite the whole situation kicking off with Iran's blitz on a US base in
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Brit influencers vented their anger and confusion over the Middle East airspace chaos
Credit: TikTok/bethhassan
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Hamad International Airport closed its airspace following Iran's blitz on a US base
Credit: Reuters
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TikTok users said their connecting flights had been delayed or cancelled
Credit: TikTok/clodagh7
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Missiles rained in on the American Al Udeid base in Doha
Credit: Getty
It comes after the mullahs launched retaliatory
strikes
at Al Udeid US military base in Doha, in response to Donald Trump's Operation Midnight Hammer.
The resulting airspace closure meant that thousands of travellers were left stranded in the capital, while many others had connecting flights disrupted and some even had their planes diverted mid-air.
Doha's Hamad International Airport stayed shut down for eight hours from Monday evening, prompting airlines to quickly cancel flights.
It reopened in the early hours of Tuesday - but with international routes already interrupted the disruption is taking its time to resolve.
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Beth Hassan, a running and lifetyle influencer, detailed how her flight to Doha from Sydney had been cancelled early on Tuesday.
She said: "I'm so stressed - there's been no information given.
"I've tried to contact the airline but can't get through on the phone or email so don't know what to do."
She said that she would be going to the airport to figure out how she could speak to someone and get to Doha.
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The Brit traveller said: "I'm really stressed, somebody help!"
Another user named Codalley described his experience stuck in Doha's airport while laying on the floor with his belongings due to the US attacks.
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He said: "Stuck in Doha airport, 34km away from the airbase that was just bombed.
"Airspace and airport shut down."
Another Brit with the username Clodagh7 said that she had been unable to leave Brisbane.
She said: "Apparently Doha airport is just chockablock, so I'm going back to Brisbane now."
Meanwhile, other influencers from elsewhere in the world made similar complaints.
Beauty influencer Maddie Wilcox detailed how she woke up on board her flight from India to Doha to the sound of an announcement.
The crew were telling her and fellow passengers that their plane was diverting - with just two hours remaining until they were supposed to reach their destination.
She was told the sudden diversion was due to missiles being fired at
Qatar
's capital.
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Sine had their flights diverted mid-air
Credit: TikTok/bymadeline_makeup
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Some were stuck in Doha airport, less than 40km away from the US military base in Doha
Credit: TikTok/codyalley
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Missiles being intercepted by air defence systems above Doha
Qatar
Airways said on X about the cancelled flights: "Our focus at this time is to help our passengers return home or reach their onward journey safely and smoothly.
"We've deployed extra ground staff at Hamad International Airport to support you as we resume operations."
Flights were diverted to a variety of alternative destinations amid the missile salvos, including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai World Central, Jeddah Muscat, Medina and Riyadh.
Several planes departing from Heathrow and West Midlands Airport even u-turned mid-air and
It comes after flights to holiday hotspots were cancelled following
Donald Trump
's bombing raid on Iran.
Loud explosions were heard in Doha while bright flashes could also be seen lighting up the night
sky
as air defence systems worked to intercept the missiles.
All the Iranian missiles were shot down, and no casualties were reported.
Following the Iranian attack, Trump posted on Truth Social saying he hopes "Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region".
The president wrote: "Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered.
"I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they've gotten it all out of their 'system'.
"Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same."
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Iranian missiles had been launched at the Al Udeid airbase which lies less than 20 miles away from Doha
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Airspace over Qatar was closed after Iran launched missile strikes against the US Al Udeid airbase near the capital Doha
Credit: Reuters