Veteran Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya made an emotional appeal to the Indian government this week. His son Jay is stranded in Dubai amid escalating conflict in West Asia. The singer shared his distress on Instagram, tagging Prime Minister Modi and several airlines. But hours later, he deleted the post. Here is what happened and why so many Indians are struggling to get home.
The Singer’s Plea
On Tuesday, Abhijeet took to Instagram with a heartfelt message. He wrote that his son Jay Bhattacharya is stuck in Dubai due to disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. He described it as an “incredibly distressing time” for the family .
“I sincerely request the Government of India and the Ministry of External Affairs to kindly look into his situation and help ensure his safe return to India at the earliest,” he wrote .
He tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs, and multiple airlines including Air India, Emirates, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, hoping for urgent intervention .
Why the Post Was Deleted
Shortly after posting, Abhijeet removed the message from his Instagram account. No official reason has been given for the deletion. It is unclear whether his son has since made contact or if other arrangements were made privately. The singer has not issued any further statement .
What Is Happening in the Region
The crisis began on February 28, when massive explosions rocked Tehran after Israel launched what it called “preventive” missile strikes against Iran . This dramatically escalated tensions that had been building throughout 2024 and 2025. The long-standing shadow conflict between Israel and Iran has now turned into direct military confrontations, including major aerial strikes and reciprocal missile attacks .
The United States has also been drawn into the situation amid ongoing strains over a potential nuclear agreement with Iran . Fears of a wider military confrontation in the Middle East are growing daily.
How This Affects Air Travel
The conflict has caused unprecedented disruption to global aviation. Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, was forced to suspend all flights temporarily . Major Gulf carriers including Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways paused most scheduled services as widespread airspace closures took effect across the Middle East .
Air India halted flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Amritsar to major European and North American cities. It also suspended services between India and several Middle Eastern destinations . Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that more than 2,000 flights to the Middle East were canceled on March 1 alone, representing about half of the day’s scheduled operations .
Indians Returning Home
Despite the chaos, some Indians have managed to return. On Tuesday, around 160 people from Maharashtra, including 84 students, arrived in Mumbai on two chartered flights arranged by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde . The students were part of a five-day university program in Dubai and had been stranded since last week .
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers have been canceled so far due to the conflict . However, Indian carriers are planning 58 flights on March 4, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express, to bring stranded citizens home .
Passenger Stories
Those who have made it back describe tense moments. Nihal Gawas, a student who returned on one of the chartered flights, said, “While leaving Dubai, we saw an explosion” . Another passenger, Shakuntala Kashid, was on her first visit to Dubai with her sons. “We were sightseeing, and while returning to our hotel, we suddenly saw an explosion at a hotel. We are grateful to God for bringing us home safely,” she said .
Sunil Gupta, who returned from Dubai, told reporters he was anxious until his flight landed in Delhi. “I was very worried because I have never faced such a situation before. Watching everything that was happening around the world made me anxious. All I wanted was to somehow return home and be with my family,” he said .
Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s deleted post highlights the anxiety felt by countless Indian families with loved ones stranded in the Gulf region. While some have returned through special flights and government efforts, thousands remain uncertain when they can come home. The situation remains fluid, and the government continues to monitor airspace and arrange relief flights. For now, families like Abhijeet’s can only wait and hope.
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