Thousands of airline passengers were stranded across the Middle East and beyond after the United States conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend of June 22–23, 2025. The airstrikes, which marked a dramatic escalation in US-Iran tensions, prompted immediate and widespread flight suspensions and rerouting efforts by major global carriers.

Airlines including American Airlines, United, Air Canada, Air France-KLM, and Lufthansa, halted flights to key Gulf destinations such as Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh. Singapore Airlines and British Airways initially suspended operations to the region but cautiously resumed some services, citing a highly fluid security situation. UAE-based carriers such as Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai, and Air Arabia have extended flight suspensions and implemented major route changes, opting to bypass the Gulf entirely through longer, less direct paths over Eastern Europe.

In addition to airspace closures, over 150 aircraft experienced GPS spoofing within 24 hours, raising major safety concerns among aviation authorities. OPSGROUP, an airspace risk monitoring service, issued warnings to American carriers operating near Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, highlighting elevated risks tied to the conflict.

Civil aviation was further disrupted as several countries, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, closed portions of their airspace. Israel's Ben Gurion Airport suspended commercial operations, while major Iranian airports such as Tehran’s Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad were shut down. In response, Israel's Airports Authority launched emergency evacuation operations, conducting 24 flights daily with limited capacity. More than 25,000 people registered for evacuation assistance in a single day, prompting Israeli carrier El Al to increase capacity for emergency departures.

Governments worldwide, including Australia and New Zealand, coordinated alternative evacuation efforts through neighboring countries, with many citizens being rerouted via Jordan or Azerbaijan due to inaccessible air corridors.

The flight disruptions have also had significant economic and geopolitical consequences. Oil prices spiked following the attacks, with Brent crude reaching its highest levels since January. The possibility of Iranian retaliation, including threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, has fueled further uncertainty in global markets and military planning.

Navigation difficulties compounded by GPS interference, heightened missile activity, and general conflict instability continue to delay recovery efforts in the aviation sector. Airline fuel and operational costs are rising as aircraft are diverted through longer routes, and travelers are warned of extended disruptions in the coming days.

With tensions in the region escalating and military operations ongoing, the outlook for restoring full commercial air connectivity remains uncertain. Governments and carriers are closely monitoring the situation, with contingency plans in place for extended conflict scenarios.