Arabic version: عائلات أسترالية تُخلي مطار الدوحة مع سقوط صواريخ قريبة

An Australian family experienced a terrifying escape from Doha airport on Tuesday as Iranian missiles flew overhead. Marty Gruszka, a Melburnian, was preparing for a flight to Rome with his wife and three children when the situation escalated. After boarding their plane, they spent three hours on the tarmac before being evacuated due to the alarming circumstances. According to ABC News, Gruszka described the chaos, stating, “We could see missiles flying outside over the airport and sirens were going off, so a lot of panic. My kids were crying, my wife was freaking out.”

The family is among thousands of Australians stranded in the Middle East following the closure of airspace around Iran due to escalating military tensions. The airspace restrictions were implemented after US and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Gruszka noted that the missile strikes have continued, targeting various sites, including Qatar, where the military has been intercepting missile attacks.

Dramatic footage from Doha captured a missile crashing into a nearby neighborhood, heightening fears among travelers. Gruszka acknowledged the frustration of being stranded but understood the airlines’ decisions to cancel flights under the dangerous conditions. He remarked, “It’s a suicide mission to be flying in the skies here right now.”

Another Australian, Abby Hayes, is currently stuck in Dubai, where Iranian missiles recently struck a luxury hotel and the airport. She also faced evacuation shortly after boarding a flight. Hayes expressed her concerns for her four-year-old daughter back home, saying, “There’s always this existential threat as a mother, travelling anyway, that you shouldn’t be leaving your child, and what if you don’t get to come back?”

Efforts to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for assistance have been challenging for stranded Australians. While the UK is considering evacuation options for its citizens, the Australian government has yet to announce any repatriation flights. Gruszka stated he does not blame the government for the situation, while Hayes expressed a desire for quicker action to ensure citizens’ safe return home.