Chaos! 6,000 flights were canceled and New Zealand tourists stranded in the Middle East experienced missile interceptions!

Comprehensive report from New Zealand Chinese Herald Travelers around the world, including thousands from New Zealand, are being stranded as a massive missile attack in the Middle East triggers airspace closures. It is estimated that about 6,000 flights have been cancelled, one of the largest disruptions to global air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the United States and Israel previously jointly attacked Iran and killed its Supreme Leader Khamenei and many senior officials, Iran immediately launched missiles to many countries in the Middle East in retaliation. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub, was damaged in a retaliatory strike and remains closed. Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have all announced partial or total airspace closures.

Auckland University students Harry Burden and Gordon Piper, who were on holiday in the United Arab Emirates, described the horrific scene yesterday. They live just a few kilometers from Alminhard Air Force Base, and Piper said they were sitting outside when they suddenly saw debris falling from the sky. “At first we didn’t know what it was until we saw the burning debris falling.” Burden said the scene was “crazy”: “Not only did we see the smoke from the interception, but we also saw a piece of burning debris hit the Fairmont Hotel on the Palm. It was incredible to watch the burning object fall from the sky.”

The pair said it was reassuring to see most of the missiles and drones successfully intercepted. They were originally scheduled to return home in two days. Although their itinerary is currently uncertain, they are optimistic that they “will be able to go home soon.”

New Zealand Winter Olympics snowboarding finalist Rocco Jamieson and his mother were stuck in Dubai on their way to South Korea to film a short film. Speaking from her hotel in Dubai, Jamieson said: “It was really scary to see the windows shaking, it all became very real.”

His mother, Deb, said they received mobile phone alerts reminding them to take cover and stay away from windows. It was not until today that they received the notification that “activities can be resumed” that they dared to go to the swimming pool to take a rest.

New Zealand’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reminds citizens in affected areas to follow local government advice, including “shelter in place”. World Travelers’ Gordy Bayne said the closure of airspace in the Middle East would have a huge impact on New Zealanders traveling to Europe. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways have activated disruption response policies to allow cancellations and changes.

Bayne stressed that this was not a global travel lull, but merely a local disruption in the Middle East, and he urged travelers to remain calm and try to find alternative routes to avoid the affected areas.

Since Dubai Airport handles 90 million passengers every year, the chain reaction of this damage and suspension of flights will spread around the world. For New Zealanders, Dubai is the transit throat to Europe. It is recommended that tourists traveling recently pay close attention to the New Zealand government’s SafeTravel platform.