‘When You See a Missile in Front of You…’: Indian Passengers Recall Abu Dhabi Ordeal After Safe Arrival in Bengaluru :

Prime Vista News

Indian passengers stranded in Abu Dhabi amid missile alerts recount tense moments and sudden flight cancellations as they safely arrive in Bengaluru.

Indian passengers who were stranded in Abu Dhabi amid missile alerts and sudden flight cancellations heaved a sigh of relief upon landing in Bengaluru on Monday night. Many travellers described the experience as tense and frightening, while also expressing gratitude to authorities and airline staff for ensuring their safety during the disruption.

Passengers thanked Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi government, and the Indian government for coordinating accommodation, transport, and alternative flight arrangements during the temporary airspace restrictions.

“We Were Asked Not to Sit Near Windows”

Saurabh Shetty, a native of Mangaluru who works for an oil company in Abu Dhabi, described the unfolding situation as “worrisome and scary.”

“When I came to catch my flight on February 28, everything seemed alright. Suddenly, near the check-in area, we got an alarm and were asked to sit down. We were cautioned not to sit near the windows because of a missile threat,” he said in a video statement.

According to Shetty, panic spread quickly among passengers when someone mentioned that a missile might hit.

“We were shocked. We were like we are in the safest city Abu Dhabi. How can this happen here? Later, when we looked outside, we saw a missile. We never thought such things could happen here. Everyone was calling to check if we were safe. Thankfully, we were safe inside the airport,” he added.

Calling it a “life-breaking moment,” Shetty said witnessing a missile in the sky was deeply unsettling.

“When you see a missile in front of you, you feel it may hit you any moment. From my hotel room, I could see interceptions happening in the sky. At that time, I thought about how the Indian Army faces such situations. We have great respect for them,” he said, while also expressing condolences for those reportedly affected by debris.

Flight Cancellations and Hotel Arrangements

Mahesh, who was travelling from Boston, praised the airline’s arrangements despite the disruption.

“One flight has landed from Abu Dhabi. The service was great. They provided us a good hotel and arranged food. We stayed comfortably. Around 15 to 16 flights operated today, and they are expecting more to resume. Only partial airspace is available right now,” he said.

Ramya, a Bengaluru resident who had travelled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, said her return flight was initially cancelled before being rebooked.

“Our return flight was cancelled initially. On March 2, Etihad arranged another flight for us. As of now, the situation seems peaceful, but as a precautionary measure, they had closed the airspace. Only about 15 flights have been allowed,” she said.

Another passenger, Bharat, described the past two days as tense but acknowledged improvements.

“The last two days were a little scary. But today it is better. They arranged flights for us to return. Special thanks to the Indian and UAE governments for extending our stay and accommodating us,” he said.

Coordination Between Governments

Niruban, a traveller from Coimbatore, noted that drone activity had caused delays but said the return journey was smooth.

“Thanks to Etihad Airways, we reached safely. The Abu Dhabi government took very good care of us. Within four to five hours, they arranged transport to good hotels and ensured everyone’s safety. Even while returning to the airport, proper transportation was arranged,” he said.

Prasad, a software developer based in Bengaluru, said that while Abu Dhabi appeared relatively stable, the atmosphere remained tense.

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“We heard sounds and felt vibrations. There were interceptions happening, and some debris reportedly fell near the airport. Dubai was said to be worse. But the authorities provided accommodation free of cost and coordinated well with the Indian authorities. My advice to those there is to follow government guidelines,” he said.

Girimalappa Kerur, originally from Bilgi in Bagalkot district and currently residing in Bengaluru, was travelling to Paris for business when he got stranded.

“We could hear explosions, and we were told around 15 missiles were intercepted in Abu Dhabi. One person reportedly died due to debris. Etihad arranged a safe hotel away from the airport. They are operating about 15 flights a day between 5 am and 5 pm to clear the backlog from February 28. I cancelled my onward trip to Paris and returned to Bengaluru. I’m relieved to be back,” he said.

Relief on Touchdown

As flights gradually resumed under partial airspace availability, passengers arriving in Bengaluru expressed visible relief upon touchdown. Many described the experience as a reminder of how quickly situations can escalate during geopolitical tensions.

Despite the anxiety, travellers consistently highlighted the calm handling of the situation by airport authorities, airline staff, and government officials. From arranging hotel stays and food to coordinating safe transfers back to the airport, passengers credited swift administrative action for preventing panic.

For many, the emotional moment came not during the disruption but upon safely landing back home in Bengaluru, where families were waiting anxiously.

“We survived and returned home. All we wanted was to see our families,” Shetty said.