Tourist's Dubai Departure Coincides with Evacuation Flight Amid Regional Tensions

MOSCOW, March 5 – For Russian tourist Elina, a scheduled return flight from Dubai to Moscow turned into an unexpected evacuation. Speaking to reporters, she described a sudden shift from holiday to hurried departure as regional hostilities escalated.

"We arrived on February 24," Elina said. "We were lucky. Our original flight was today, and they put us on that exact slot for the evacuation. We weren't delayed at all. There are people who've been vacationing for a week now and can't find a way out. We just had enormous luck."

Her initial Thursday flight to Moscow was canceled, but authorities placed her on an evacuation flight departing the same day. Instead of a hotel transfer, she was sent directly to the airport with confirmation the plane would leave.

Hotel staff provided support but instructed guests to remain inside, canceling all excursions and trips. "That's the most disappointing part," Elina noted. She added that from her location, she did not witness or hear any military activity.

The departures come as the United States and Israel began striking targets inside Iran, including near Tehran, on February 28, with reports of destruction and civilian casualties. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli territory and US military assets across the Middle East, creating widespread regional instability and disrupting international travel.