Australian travelers in the Middle East recount harrowing experiences of missile strikes and chaotic evacuations
The air raid sirens blared, signaling an impending threat.
Basements became makeshift shelters, lined with mattresses for comfort.
In a rush, travelers scrambled onto buses, their destinations unknown.
These are the stories of Australian travelers, caught in the crossfire of a war zone, as they embarked on or returned from dream holidays.
The recent joint Israeli-US strikes on Iran have disrupted the travel industry and closed airspace across the Middle East, the world's busiest air corridor.
Experts predict it could take weeks (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-02/iran-middle-east-war-australians-stranded-travel/106405120) for flights to resume fully, while others warn that attacks on airports may persist.
One traveler, Kelly Exner, found herself trapped in the United Arab Emirates with her severe Crohn's disease.
Exner, a Sydney resident, was at Dubai International Airport when her flight to Milan was delayed.
With fatigue issues and a prolonged layover, she booked an airport hotel room.
As flights were grounded, she nearly collapsed and was taken to the hotel in a wheelchair.
Exner woke up in the middle of the night, hearing a loud bang and knowing something was amiss.
"The warnings kicked on, instructing us to evacuate immediately," she shared with the ABC.
"We were ushered into the stairwell, with smoke and sirens all around, and people rushing."
