An Emirates flight from Dubai was delayed by approximately one hour before arriving at Chennai International Airport early on Friday, following a postponed departure due to air clearance procedures amid heightened tensions in West Asia, passengers reported.
Flight EK 0542 eventually landed safely in Chennai despite the delay. A passenger named Messool, a medical student travelling from Dubai, told ANI that educational institutions had conducted online classes for the past week due to the ongoing conflict. He added that Ramadan holidays were announced earlier and students had been advised to exercise caution.
“We heard interception sounds at times and were asked to stay safe. Online classes will continue from March 23rd until the situation returns to normal,” Messool said.
Another passenger, Sumana, reported that residents in Dubai remained safe despite occasional loud noises. She described her journey from Abu Dhabi to Chennai as safe despite the delayed take-off.
“Though there were some noises, we were all safe. The flight took off late but landed safely in Chennai,” Sumana said.
Ashish, another traveller, stated that conditions in Dubai were normal and that the flight delay of one hour was attributed to air clearance by airline staff.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said it is closely monitoring the developing situation in West Asia and its effects on air travel between India and the region. Airlines are making necessary operational adjustments to ensure passenger safety and flight operations proceed smoothly.
MoCA confirmed that Indian carrier operations to and from Riyadh resumed on March 12. On that day, Air India and IndiGo operated three flights to Mumbai, and Air India Express operated one flight to Calicut, restoring vital air connectivity between India and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Between February 28 and March 11, a total of 150,457 passengers travelled from Gulf countries to India. Further, Indian carriers have scheduled 57 inbound flights for March 12 from cities including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Jeddah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh, and Sharjah, subject to operational feasibility and prevailing conditions, the Ministry stated.
The Ministry is coordinating closely with airlines and other stakeholders to facilitate smooth passenger movement. Airfares are being monitored to prevent unreasonable price increases during this period.
Passengers are advised to stay in contact with their airlines for the latest information on flight schedules and travel arrangements. The Ministry will continue to review the situation and provide updates as necessary.