No fewer than 560 passengers travelling from Nigeria have been stranded following widespread airspace closures across parts of the Middle East, triggered by escalating hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The affected passengers, who had checked in with their luggage and arrived at airports last Saturday for outbound international flights, remain grounded after several countries shut their airspace amid missile exchanges and heightened military tensions in the region.
Some of the travellers were scheduled to fly with Qatar Airways and Emirates through Middle Eastern hubs before the sudden disruption forced a halt to operations.
Both airlines were expected to deploy wide-body aircraft for the flights, including a Boeing 777-300ER operated by Emirates, which has a seating capacity of between 354 and 360 passengers, while Qatar Airways was scheduled to airlift between 210 and 250 passengers with its B787-800.
Using the minimum capacity figures of 344 and 210 passengers for both carriers, the number of stranded passengers could be estimated at about 554 at the least.
After the war started, Syria reportedly closed portions of its southern airspace bordering Israel for several hours, while Jordan’s Air Force conducted defensive drills and announced it intercepted ballistic missiles. Kuwait also shut its airspace after engaging incoming threats.
Russia’s air transport authority, Rosaviatsia, subsequently suspended all commercial flights to Israel and Iran until further notice, compounding global aviation disruptions.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, passengers who had already boarded a Qatar Airways flight were later asked to disembark after authorities announced the closure of Doha’s airspace.
The airline confirmed the development, while Emirates also suspended operations, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
Many travellers returned home disappointed, while others spent the night in nearby airport hotels awaiting further updates.
Findings by The NGGOSSIPS showed that inbound passengers heading to Nigeria were also affected, with several reportedly stranded at Dubai International Airport following abrupt flight cancellations.
For many of those affected, the disruption has come with emotional and financial consequences. One of the stranded passengers, Dare Olanihun, told The NGGOSSIPS that the crisis derailed an important business engagement abroad.
“If I had known that war would break out, I would have travelled earlier. This is a serious blow to me, honestly. Tears dropped from my eyes when we were asked to disembark on Saturday evening,” he said.
Olanihun explained that passengers initially assumed the delay would be temporary before airlines later directed them to leave the airport. “This trip would have impacted my professional life greatly, but I can only pray that it is redeemable,” he added.
Another passenger, who declined to disclose his name, described the situation as a painful reminder of how global conflicts affect ordinary people. He said the crisis had also disrupted family arrangements.
“There is nothing we can do. We can only pray for peace around the world. No one is happy about war, but when it happens, everyone must adjust to the new normal,” he said.
“Even my brother, whose wedding we are planning for the end of March, is trapped over there. I also have a doctor’s appointment in Europe on the 5th of this month, but what can I do?” he lamented.
A student traveller, Aderemi O., who was heading overseas to resume her studies, appealed to her institution for understanding. “I just hope our classes can move online because of this fight. We cannot blame anyone for war, but the effects will remain for a long time,” she said.
FAAN issues travel advisory
Amid the uncertainty, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria issued an advisory cautioning Nigerian travellers about ongoing disruptions to international flights linked to Middle Eastern destinations.
In a statement released on Saturday, the authority confirmed that the airspace closures were already affecting flight operations to and from Nigeria. “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to inform the travelling public that ongoing airspace closures in parts of the Middle East are currently impacting flight operations to and from the region,” the statement read.
FAAN advised affected passengers to contact their airlines directly for updated flight information, rebooking arrangements, and travel guidance. “Passengers affected by these disruptions are strongly advised to contact their respective airlines directly for up-to-date information on flight status, rebooking options ,and further guidance,” the authority added.
The agency said it was working with international aviation regulators and airline operators to monitor developments and prioritise passenger safety.
Responding to the situation, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that several flights remained grounded as authorities assessed the evolving security situation.
“I learnt Saudi Arabia opened its airspace because of the lesser hajj, and EgyptAir reportedly flew yesterday. Maybe one other aircraft arrived in Nigeria from there. We can only pray things get better,” he said.
Achimugu added that uncertainty over the duration of the conflict meant affected passengers had little choice but to return home and await further updates. “Passengers who were asked to go home must have returned to their houses because nobody knows when this will end,” he stated.
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