SEPANG, 6 March 2026 (The Capital Post)— A group of Malaysians who were stranded in Dubai following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East have safely returned home after arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
The group landed at KLIA Terminal 1 at about 9.40pm on Thursday aboard Emirates flight EK342 after being stranded for several days due to regional airspace disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict.
They were among the first Malaysians affected by the travel disruptions to successfully return to the country after being unable to leave Dubai since Feb 28, when escalating hostilities forced the closure of airspace across several Middle Eastern nations.
The airspace shutdown occurred after military strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran triggered retaliatory attacks, prompting multiple countries in the region to suspend flights and close their skies to commercial aviation.
One of the passengers, Pirativ Rao, said he and his parents had joined a European tour that began on Feb 17 but were unable to return to Malaysia as scheduled when their transit flight through Dubai was cancelled.
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During the delay, the group stayed in a hotel arranged by the airline while waiting for flights to resume. Passengers were also advised to remain indoors during security alerts, with some reporting hearing explosions believed to be from defence systems intercepting missiles.
Despite the tense situation, the passengers expressed relief and gratitude after finally returning safely to Malaysia following several days of uncertainty.
The conflict has disrupted air travel across the Middle East, leaving thousands of travellers stranded worldwide as airlines suspended flights and governments worked to arrange evacuation or repatriation options.-The Capital Post
