Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has been left stranded at Dubai airport after operations were suspended following missile strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, casting a shadow over her preparations for one of badminton’s most prestigious events.
Sindhu was en route to Birmingham for the All England Open, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, with Dubai serving as her connecting point. However, the escalating conflict in the region brought one of the world’s busiest travel hubs to a complete standstill, leaving thousands of passengers — including the two-time Olympic medallist — with no clear path forward.
Sindhu took to Instagram to document the scenes unfolding around her at the airport, captioning her video with the stark message: “All flights suspended until further notice.” The post quickly drew widespread attention, highlighting the human impact of a conflict that has sent shockwaves far beyond the battlefield.
She also took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share her thoughts on the matter. “It’s hard to process what’s unfolding right now. Hearing the interceptions overhead and seeing how quickly everything has escalated is honestly terrifying. So many disturbing videos are coming to light, and this is sadly the reality of what is happening. Dubai is a city I deeply love, a place that has always felt safe and full of life, which makes this moment even harder to comprehend”.
“To everyone who has been messaging and checking in, thank you; it truly means a lot. I am safe right now, stuck here with my team, and we are doing okay as the situation around the war with Iran continues to evolve. Airports are chaotic, with many families stranded and waiting, all of us just hoping we get past this soon. I’m sure the authorities are doing everything in their power, and like everyone here, we’re holding on to patience and hope. Moments like these remind you how fragile normal life really is. Praying for safety and peace for everyone affected,” she added.
DUBAI AIRPORTS GRIND TO A HALT
According to Reuters, Dubai Airports confirmed that all flights at Dubai International — which handled nearly 100 million passengers last year — as well as the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport, were suspended until further notice, urging passengers not to travel to the airport.
Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, confirmed it had temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai due to multiple regional airspace closures. Its sister airline flydubai followed suit, also halting operations entirely. Etihad Airways meanwhile announced that all flights scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi were suspended until 1000 GMT on Sunday, with arrivals expected before that time also cancelled.
The scale of the disruption is enormous. With Gulf hub airports serving as critical transit points for travellers across Asia, Europe and beyond, the knock-on effect on international travel has been swift and far-reaching. Airlines have urged affected passengers to monitor their flight status closely and check for rebooking waivers before heading to any airport in the region.
INDIAN BASKETBALL TEAM STUCK IN DOHA
The conflict has also left other Indian sporting contingents stranded in the region. The Basketball Federation of India confirmed via X that the Indian Senior Men’s National Basketball Team is currently stuck in Doha, Qatar, following their match in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
The All England Open, one of badminton’s most storied and celebrated tournaments, is set to get underway on March 3.
With the situation in the Middle East continuing to evolve rapidly, whether Sindhu and other affected athletes will be able to reach their destinations in time remains deeply uncertain.
