An Emirates cabin crew member has shared the little-known fears staff experience during times of war, as thousands of passengers remain stranded in Dubai and across the Middle East due to recent airspace closures. Naina Gill, a crew member, admitted she is proud of her role but confessed the difficulties that arise during unrest.
In a candid social media post, Gill revealed that when airspace closes due to conflict, flights are cancelled 'within seconds', wiping out months of planning. Crew members often become stuck in foreign countries with no clear timeline for return. 'You don't know if you're going tomorrow or after 10 days,' she said.
Gill described the fear at 35,000 feet, passenger panic, and the emotional pressure of receiving messages from worried family while still having to smile and remain calm. Re-routes lead to longer duty hours, with an eight-hour flight becoming 12 hours, increasing exhaustion.
The revelations come after President Donald Trump confirmed US cooperation with Israel against Iran, triggering travel chaos. Emirates and Etihad suspended flights, with Emirates announcing a limited resumption from the evening of 2 March. Passengers were advised only to go to the airport if contacted directly.
Emirates stated: 'We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority... The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.' The airline continues to monitor the situation and update its schedule accordingly.
