Stranded in Doha, Chennai resident reaches Riyadh by road to fly back home

For more than a decade, international travel had been a routine part of Varun Krishnan’s professional life. Each year, he would fly out to attend one of the world’s largest technology conferences, moving through airports and transit hubs with the quiet predictability that frequent flyers come to expect.

This year’s journey began in much the same way. He left Chennai for Barcelona on February 28 with a scheduled transit stop in Doha, expecting a short halt before continuing to Spain. But somewhere over West Asia, the routine began to change.

“As we were approaching Iraqi airspace, I noticed on the flight map that we were slowing down and circling,” Mr. Krishnan recalled. “Soon after, the captain announced that because of security concerns the flight would be returning to Doha.”

By the time the aircraft landed, the regional security situation had worsened. Military escalation in parts of West Asia had triggered airspace restrictions, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute flights. One of the world’s busiest transit hubs was suddenly dealing with uncertainty on a massive scale.

Mr. Krishnan found himself among thousands of stranded passengers trying to understand what would happen next. “Emergency alerts started going off on our phones even before we landed,” he said. “That was the first moment I realised how serious the situation was.”

For several days, he remained in Doha waiting for clarity on flight schedules. The hotel accommodation arranged by the airline initially provided relief, but as cancellations continued, the experience became emotionally taxing. “It was safe, but it felt like a waiting zone,” he said. “I had planned to be in Barcelona, not staying indoors in a city I hadn’t intended to visit.”

Back in Chennai, his family followed every development with growing anxiety. Live television coverage of missile interceptions and escalating tensions made the distance feel smaller and the risks more immediate.

His wife said maintaining calm at home became her biggest challenge. “He called us from the flight, and at first, I thought it was just a normal update,” she said. “Then he explained that he was stranded. For the next few days, I hardly slept. We had to stay strong for our child and the elders in the family.”

Another way out

The uncertainty took on a sharper edge one night when loud explosions were heard near the area where Mr. Krishnan was staying. “We woke up to the sound of blasts,” he said. “From the upper floors of the hotel, we could see something burning in the distance. That was when I began to seriously think about finding another way out.”

With flight options limited and no clear timeline for normal operations to resume, he eventually decided to take an unconventional route. A group of travellers was planning a road journey across the desert to Saudi Arabia, hoping to secure onward flights from Riyadh. “A friend told me there was one seat available in their car,” Mr. Krishnan recounted. “It felt like a risk, but at that point waiting also felt uncertain. So, I decided to go.”

The journey involved hours of driving through remote stretches, multiple security checks, and tense moments at the border crossing. “Even while we were waiting at immigration, alerts about possible attacks were coming through,” he said. “We were just hoping to cross safely.”

After reaching Riyadh, he managed to arrange further travel and eventually boarded a flight and reached India on March 7. By then, the professional commitments that had originally prompted the trip had faded in importance. “I have travelled abroad many times, but I have never felt more relieved to return home,” he said.

For his family, the relief was quieter but equally profound. “It was an unprecedented experience for all of us,” his wife said. “We are just grateful that he is back home safely.”

Mr. Krishnan’s experience reflects the wider impact of geopolitical tensions on global mobility. Gulf transit hubs play a crucial role in connecting Asia, Europe, and North America, and disruptions in their airspace can quickly cascade across international travel networks.

Now back in Chennai, he says the episode has changed the way he views travel. What once seemed like a predictable system of schedules and connections now appears far more uncertain and fragile, Mr. Krishnan adds.

Published – March 16, 2026 09:12 pm IST