Bollywood actor Vineet Kumar Singh, known for his performances in films like Chhaava, Superboys of Malegaon and Mukkabaaz, returned to Mumbai early Tuesday morning (June 24) after being stranded at Dubai Airport. He landed around 3:45 am. Vineet was among many passengers affected by a sudden airspace closure in the Middle East, following rising tensions in the region.
'We were clueless around 10:00 pm'
The actor had taken to Instagram on Monday night to share an update from Dubai. "I am at Dubai Airport. 9:23 pm Dubai Time.
Immigration done. Waiting at the gate for my flight. Fingers crossed (sic)," he wrote in his story, expressing uncertainty about his flight status.
In a conversation with News18, the actor said, "We were clueless around 10:00 pm." Although his flight was scheduled to depart at 9:40 pm Dubai time, the situation remained unclear for a while. "Then we got the news that boarding started. Flight takeoff [was] little late but everything was fine. Emirates Airlines and Dubai airport staff helped everyone," he added.
In another Instagram story Vineet informed his followers that he is now safely back in Mumbai, relieved to be home.
Middle East tensions disrupted major flight routes
The airspace shutdown followed Iran's missile attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Qatar, which were in response to earlier strikes on its nuclear infrastructure. The escalation forced several countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, to close their airspace temporarily, affecting both commercial and passenger flights.
Dubai, a major global travel hub, saw flight delays and disruptions. Emirates and flydubai reportedly suspended flights to several cities in Iran and Iraq, including Baghdad, Basra, and Tehran. Emirates confirmed that these suspensions will last until at least June 30.
Travel advisory issued amid delays and cancellations
Dubai Airports released a travel advisory urging passengers to check with their airlines before heading to the airport. "We strongly advise all travellers to check with their airline for the latest flight status before heading to the airport, and to allow extra time for their journey," the advisory stated.
