Bengaluru-bound flight stuck in Istanbul after Iran launches missile strike at Israel

BENGALURU: A few Kannadigas who were travelling from Zurich in Switzerland to Bengaluru were stuck in Istanbul after their flight (EK 088) was diverted when Iran launched a missile attack on Israel on Tuesday night.

The flight was on its way from Zurich to Dubai when Iran fire about 180 missiles at Israel. Hundreds of passengers, including about 10 Kannadigas, were to travel from Dubai to Bengaluru, but were stuck in the aircraft. The flight, which left Zurich at 3.25 pm, was to land in Dubai at 10 pm on Tuesday.

Prasanna, one of the passengers, in a self-made video, said he was returning to Bengaluru after attending an L&T conference in Switzerland. “Due to the missile attack by Iran, our flight was diverted to Istanbul. We were supposed to reach Dubai and from there to Bengaluru. But unfortunately, the flight was diverted. We are still inside the aircraft and the door haven’t been opened. There are about 300-350 passengers on the plane and we are all worried. We still don’t know how the airline will take us to Bengaluru”.

The flight to Bengaluru from Dubai was to arrive on Wednesday, but there was no sign of it. The Kannadigas said they were in fear for 12 hours, but are slightly relieved now. They were expected to arrive later on Wednesday or on Thursday.