By Kisho Kumari Sucedaram
KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) -- Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has thrown the aviation industry into chaos and left thousands of travellers stranded, it is heart-warming to see the global aviation community joining hands to evacuate passengers safely to their respective destinations.
Malaysia received its first batch of stranded passengers from the Middle East, specifically Dubai Thursday. They have been stranded since Feb 28, when the conflict started.
More such rescue plans are underway.
The spirit of solidarity was evident in several social media posts showing fighter jets from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) escorting flights departing from Dubai International Airport (DXB), ensuring safe departures through uncertain skies.
One such video of the departures, posted on the Emirates Business Instagram account, has garnered 857,000 likes and more than 612,000 shares.
An Instagram user known as Socorro Morake commented: “I saw the jet from my window when we landed on March 4 in DXB. What a privilege, this is how the leadership protects its residents and visitors.”
Another user, Mia Lambonao, commented: “Thank you for protecting us,” while Mantap Spa & Wellness Centre from Indonesia wrote: “Terima kasih banyak.”
Despite the risks and operational challenges, airlines around the world have mobilised an unprecedented effort to evacuate stranded passengers and bring them home safely.
Beyond commercial airlines, governments themselves have also arranged repatriation missions.
Countries including Malaysia, Germany, France, Poland, Switzerland and New Zealand have launched repatriation efforts, while several others are working closely with airlines to secure seats for stranded nationals.
Besides rescue missions, airlines that are not caught in the conflict zone are also mounting flights to mobilise passengers across the globe who are also affected due to the closure of airspace in the Middle East.
The wave of attacks by the United States and Israel, which has entered day nine, as well as Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against targets across the region, forced the closure of a significant portion of Middle Eastern airspace, consequently impacting flights worldwide.
At least eight countries announced the closure of their respective airspaces when the conflict erupted on Feb 28, including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE.
It is to be noted that the region is a vital hub for aviation, connecting Asia to Europe and vice versa.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said it is now working in tandem with the country’s diplomatic missions, governments in the Middle East and airlines to evacuate Malaysians stranded following the suspension of flights and closure of airspaces in the region.
Malaysia Airlines has mounted additional flights for the Kuala Lumpur–London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Kuala Lumpur–Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) routes from March 6 to 8 in order to support travellers affected by the ongoing disruptions.
The effort gained a positive response from the people. One of the X users, Brett Ray from Australia, commented that “They (Malaysia Airlines) are one of my favourite airlines”.
According to news reports, some 27,000 flights to the Middle East have been cancelled since last Saturday, affecting thousands of passengers.
Not just evacuation missions, the governments of Qatar and the UAE have also offered complimentary accommodation and meals for tourists stranded by the sudden closure of regional airspace, a commendable humanitarian effort.
On the other hand, the Lufthansa Group is also working closely with governments and foreign ministries to repatriate stranded travellers as the security situation remains fluid.
The group operated a special repatriation flight from Muscat, the capital of Oman, to Frankfurt on behalf of the German government.
Reports also said that European citizens have returned home to Italy, Austria, Slovakia and Bulgaria through at least six flights supported by the European Commission.
New Zealand has sent two defence force planes, C-130J Hercules aircraft, to the Middle East for evacuation operations.
Canada has also chartered flights to transport hundreds of its citizens from Dubai and Beirut to Istanbul as part of its evacuation effort.
Aircraft that once carried tourists and business travellers have now become lifelines, carrying relief, reassurance and the promise of reunion with loved ones at home.
Perhaps that is what makes this moment so powerful: aviation not just connecting cities, but connecting humanity.
-- BERNAMA
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