3 min readUpdated: Mar 1, 2026 11:02 AM IST
On her way to Birmingham for the prestigious All England Open starting on Tuesday, star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu is stuck at Dubai airport after operations were suspended following missile strikes by Israel and the US on Iran. The 30-year-old former world champion said later in a social media post that she and her team were ‘doing okay as the situation around the war with Iran continues to evolve.’
Dubai airport, the world’s busiest travel hub, was Sindhu’s connecting point to Birmingham. She posted a video of the scenes on her Instagram account, captioning it: “All flights suspended until further notice.”
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The Indian Express understands Sindhu was scheduled to take an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai to Birmingham, and is travelling with her personal team comprising a physio, Indonesian coach Irwansyah, and strength and conditioning coach.
“It’s hard to process what’s unfolding right now,” Sindhu posted later in the evening on X. “Hearing the interceptions overhead and seeing how quickly everything has escalated is honestly terrifying. So many disturbing videos are coming to light, and this is sadly the reality of what is happening. Dubai is a city I deeply love, a place that has always felt safe and full of life, which makes this moment even harder to comprehend.”
KIND ATTENTION: Indian Passengers stranded at the airports in UAE. pic.twitter.com/RpC6L2QzYw
— India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) February 28, 2026
“To everyone who has been messaging and checking in, thank you, it truly means a lot. I am safe right now, stuck here with my team, and we are doing okay as the situation around the war with Iran continues to evolve. Airports are chaotic, with many families stranded and waiting, all of us just hoping we get past this soon. I’m sure the authorities are doing everything in their power, and like everyone here, we’re holding on to patience and hope. Moments like these remind you how fragile normal life really is. Praying for safety and peace for everyone affected.”
Meanwhile, star doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have reached Birmingham, with Chirag posting on Instagram: “Safely landed in Birmingham before the USA struck Iran.” Doubles coach Tan Kim Her and shuttler Dhruv Kapila were also pictured in the post.
According to Reuters, airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain is virtually empty after Israel confirmed it had struck Iran and the US military launched a series of strikes on targets in the country. Iran has retaliated with a salvo of missiles. Witnesses reported explosions across the Gulf, including in Qatar’s Doha — which hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East — as well as in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
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Emirates said in a statement that it had temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai due to multiple regional airspace closures, adding that it was assisting affected passengers with rebooking, refunds, and alternative travel arrangements.
The All England Open, the second Major of the badminton season, begins Tuesday at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. Sindhu is scheduled to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the first round.
