Bengaluru: Flights at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) continued to reel under severe disruption Tuesday as the ongoing airspace restrictions led to dozens of cancellations, forced an international flight to turn back mid-air, and left thousands of passengers grappling with uncertainty across key Gulf routes.As of Tuesday afternoon, 42 flights (21 arrivals and 21 departures) were cancelled because of restricted airspace affecting key routes to West Asia. The worst-hit sectors included Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Doha, disrupting connectivity between Bengaluru and Gulf hubs that account for a significant share of labour and transit traffic.In the wee hours of Tuesday, Emirates flight EK569 on the Bengaluru-Dubai route was forced to return shortly after departure due to airspace closure. The flight took off at 4.30am before returning to Bengaluru as a precaution. The unscheduled return caused congestion at the international terminal, with anxious passengers awaiting updates. After a delay of 16 hours, the flight ultimately took off again at 8.30pm. Flyers return, families relievedEven as outbound operations remained uncertain, inbound flights brought relief to waiting families. Starting Monday night, 1,053 passengers arrived from Gulf destinations. An Abu Dhabi flight brought in 213 passengers, followed by a Dubai service with 490 passengers early morning. Later in the evening, Emirates flight EK566 landed with 350 passengers, including several Kannadigas transiting through Dubai from the war-hit region.‘Second life for me’“I did not sleep properly for three days,” said Raghavendra M from Shivamogga, who works at a construction firm. “When we heard about airspace issues and cancellations, we were worried whether we would reach home. Landing in Bengaluru feels like a second life for me,” he said.Sabah Praveen Gowda from Bengaluru said, “My parents kept calling every hour. There was tension because flights were getting cancelled. When the aircraft touched down, everyone clapped. We are just grateful to be back safe.”‘Airport staff guided us’A group of tech professionals returning from a business trip described similar uncertainty. “There were constant announcements about airspace restrictions. We were not sure if our connection would operate. The airport staff here handled things well and guided us quickly,” said Sandeep Rao, a professional.Airport officials said special assistance was provided to elderly passengers, families with children, and those needing medical support. Sources indicated that coordination between airlines, ground handlers, and air traffic control authorities was ongoing to stabilise operations. Given that hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi serve as major transit points for onward global travel, the ripple effect of the airspace restrictions was felt not only among Gulf-bound passengers but also among those connecting to Europe, North America, and Africa.Relieved MLC narrates ordealJD(S) legislator Bhoje Gowda, who returned from Dubai on Tuesday morning after being stranded for three days, said he was relieved on returning to Bengaluru. Narrating the ordeal he went through, he said: “While I was having breakfast at my friend’s place, I heard bomb explosions three times. The explosions created fear among the people, and there was a sense that war could break out. At markets, people were buying groceries in large quantities, anticipating that the tension would continue for some time. Many were stocking up supplies for 15 to 20 days. I did not expect that we would return so soon. By God’s grace, we are back,” he said.
