Explosions nearby, missiles in sky were unsettling
Times of India | 8 March 2026
I came to Dubai last Saturday for what was supposed to be a short holiday. My friend and I even went to Abu Dhabi for a day trip. But within days, everything changed, and the atmosphere suddenly began to feel like a war zone.
My flight back to Kolkata on March 4 was cancelled, and since then I tried to find a way back home. The uncertainty was the most stressful part. I finally managed to book another ticket on the 2 am Emirates EK 570 flight to Kolkata on Sunday, but until late on Saturday night I still wasn't sure if the flight would operate.
When Emirates resumed operations on Saturday evening, I finally felt a little hopeful that I might actually be able to board the flight.
Over the past few days, I mostly stayed indoors at a friend's house in Dubai. At times, we could hear distant sounds that felt like explosions, and there were moments when we saw streaks in the sky that looked like missiles. It was unsettling.
I was constantly hooked to my phone, checking govt advisories, tracking flight updates, and replying to anxious messages from my parents and relatives back in Kolkata.
All I want now is to board that flight and reach home safely.
(Sinha, a techie and resident of New Town, spoke to Tamaghna Banerjee)