'Tickets Were Priced Up To Rs 1.9 Lakh': Stranded Travellers Return On Special Dubai-Ahmedabad Flight

Last Updated:March 05, 2026, 17:55 IST

A relief flight from Dubai landed safely in Ahmedabad early Thursday, bringing 170 stranded Indian passengers. Families welcomed their loved ones after days of anxiety.

A special relief flight carrying stranded Indian passengers from Dubai landed safely at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad early on Thursday morning, bringing much-needed relief to anxious families waiting back home. Flight FZ 8437 touched down at around 4.40 am with nearly 170 passengers on board, many of whom had been stuck in Dubai amid the onling amid the US-Israel-Iran war. The flight was arranged to facilitate the return of travellers who were unable to secure seats on regular services.

As passengers emerged from the airport after landing, scenes of relief unfolded as families welcomed their loved ones after days of anxiety. Several passengers described the tense situation they had experienced in Dubai over the past few days.

Vinod Tolani, one of the passengers on the flight, said the atmosphere had become increasingly uncertain, leaving many stranded travellers worried about when they would be able to return home. “For the past few days, the situation was so uncertain that it felt like no flights would operate for at least three to four days," Tolani said, “Most flights until the 9th had already been cancelled, and it seemed like normal operations would take a long time to resume."

He added that the situation became particularly tense after recent attacks by Iran, following which local security agencies and the military intensified efforts to maintain order. “Suddenly, we received news that some flights would start operating again. That announcement brought a huge sense of relief for people who had been stuck there," he said.

However, Tolani pointed out that the resumption of flights came with another major challenge, sharply rising ticket prices. “Ticket prices became extremely high. For ordinary travellers, buying such expensive tickets was very difficult," he said, adding that some tickets were priced between Rs 80,000-Rs 90,000, while one flight ticket was reportedly as high as Rs 1.9 lakh. “For a normal family, paying such amounts is almost impossible," he said.

He also described the large crowds outside Dubai airport, where thousands of Indian citizens were waiting in the hope of returning home. “Only passengers with confirmed tickets were allowed to enter the airport, while many others had to wait outside. Some had been stranded there for several days," Tolani said.

Passengers who managed to enter the airport were provided limited facilities, including hotel arrangements in some cases. However, those waiting outside had to make their own arrangements and spent days trying to manage as best they could while hoping for a chance to return home.

News cities ahmedabad 'Tickets Were Priced Up To Rs 1.9 Lakh': Stranded Travellers Return On Special Dubai-Ahmedabad Flight

Read More