A gaggle of Queen’s College college students is stranded at an airport in Doha, Qatar, after escalating hostilities within the Center East prompted regional airspace closures and widespread flight disruptions.
Claire Haffner, a fourth-year undergraduate biology pupil, stated the group had boarded a flight to Toronto following a subject course in Sri Lanka, with a stopover in Doha, after they heard an announcement.
After being within the air for an hour and a half, “there was an announcement that the airspace was closed and we needed to flip again,” she stated.
The disruptions observe main strikes by america and Israel on targets in Iran, sharply intensifying tensions within the area.
In return, Iran responded by launching missiles in Israel and close by Gulf international locations, together with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar, which resulted in a direct shutdown of airspaces throughout the area.
“There was an preliminary panic amongst me and my classmates,” Haffner stated.
She stated the Qatar Airways flight returned to Doha, the place passengers had been briefly saved on board earlier than disembarking into what she described as a “chaotic scene” contained in the airport.
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“Everyone rushed off the airplane in a giant mob,” she stated. “It was chaotic earlier — there have been crowds in all places and features, and making an attempt to speak to employees. Everyone is coping with it in a different way, however we’re all overwhelmed.”
After a number of hours, the group was advised they’d not be flying out Saturday evening.
Haffner stated they had been nonetheless ready for phrase on when the airspace would reopen.
“There’s been a sense of uneasiness ever since,” she stated. “There’s a sinking feeling in your intestine, and you may learn the information, and you already know what’s occurring outdoors … although you’re protected within the airport.”
She stated some college students shortly bought digital SIM playing cards to remain in contact with household again house.
Making an attempt to remain optimistic, Haffner advised World Information, “We’re in a secure place, the airport looks like a secure area. I’m very fortunate to be travelling with these classmates and my professor.”
Queen’s College stated it’s in direct contact with college leaders travelling with the group.
“We acknowledge that this case could also be distressing for the scholars and their households, and their security and well-being is our prime precedence,” the college stated in an announcement to World Information.
“Queen’s is in direct contact with the school leaders in Doha to supply assist and help. We have now been suggested that the group is secure and presently on the airport.”
The college stated it companions with Worldwide SOS to offer emergency help for neighborhood members travelling on university-sanctioned actions and that the group has entry to 24-hour multilingual assist, together with assist with flight preparations.
“We are going to stay in shut contact with the school leaders and proceed to supply assist as they await additional data on subsequent steps,” the assertion stated.
World Affairs Canada has up to date its journey advisories for Canadians travelling to and from Gulf nations, together with Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, warning of “ongoing army exercise” within the area.
Flights out and in of Canada to the area have confronted cancellations and delays.
– With information from Darya Zargar
© 2026 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
