US citizens in the Middle East face 'mayhem' trying to get home
Grounded flights, nights in airports, and no clear guidance. American travellers say they desperately want to get home, but can't.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"We are already chartering flights, free of charge, and booking commercial options, which we expect will become increasingly available as time goes on."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"The number provided by the state department for support is unable to help."
— Krista Jucknath Hickman , Other
"We started to load the aircraft then we were all taken back to the terminal."
— Randy Manner , Other
"The government was currently in contact with 3,000 travellers."
— Dylan Johnson , Executive
"We are already chartering flights, free of charge, and booking commercial options, which we expect will become increasingly available as time goes on."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"We started to load the aircraft then we were all taken back to the terminal."
— Randy Manner , Other
"It's the sheer volume of people and the complexity. You will have hundreds of thousands of people being stuck in wrong parts of the world without any certainty as to when they can move."
— John Strickland , Academic
Key People
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister.
Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
White House spokesperson addressing the Pentagon briefing.
Consultant living in Riyadh, experiencing difficulty booking flights.
Texas resident with family impacted by the situation.
Aviation analyst based in the United Kingdom.
An American traveler stranded in Dubai.
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the President of the United Arab Emirates.
Penny Wong is Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Former Army Major General trying to leave Dubai.
Leader of the Labour Party and Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras.
Locations
Tags
All Coverage
Grounded flights, nights in airports, and no clear guidance. American travellers say they desperately want to get home, but can't.
Americans traveling in the Middle East report chaotic conditions as they attempt to return home amid escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, leading to flight cancellations and airport lockdowns.
Approximately 115,000 Australians are stranded in the Middle East due to escalating tensions, prompting crisis talks between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran have led to global travel disruptions, with several Middle Eastern countries closing their airspace, affecting thousands of flights worldwide.
Passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick airports face ongoing chaos as flight cancellations and delays hit routes to the Middle East due to rising tensions in the region.
The UAE faces significant travel disruptions as the US-Israel and Iran conflict leads to immediate flight cancellations and airport shutdowns, stranding thousands of travelers.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
Activists try to deliver aid to Palestinians in homes besieged by Israeli settlers
Two families have been trapped in their homes in the occupied West Bank for several days.
August 14, 2026 at 05:03 PMIsraeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, US envoy concerned over escalation - Reuters
Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, US envoy concerned over escalation Reuters
August 18, 2026 at 12:42 PMAirlines get grounded jets flying again, but engine bills linger - reuters.com
Airlines get grounded jets flying again, but engine bills linger reuters.com
August 14, 2026 at 10:31 AMIranian academic writes of US detention 'hell' over link to 1979 hostage crisis
The immigration status of Maryam Tahmasebi was revoked because her husband is the son of a prominent figure in Iran.
August 19, 2026 at 03:12 AMConditions on US aircraft carrier at sea for more than 250 days raise alarms
Thousands of sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln have reportedly faced food shortages and broken plumbing, with some considering jumping overboard.
August 13, 2026 at 06:36 PMBattered by war, Iran’s rulers wary of more economic pain and unrest if US tightens pressure - Reuters
Battered by war, Iran’s rulers wary of more economic pain and unrest if US tightens pressure Reuters
August 17, 2026 at 08:52 PM