A group of Queen's University students finds themselves stranded in Doha, Qatar, following a series of events that unfolded due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Claire Haffner, a fourth-year undergraduate biology student, shares her experience as the group was en route to Toronto after a field course in Sri Lanka with a stopover in Doha. An announcement came over the intercom, stating that the airspace was closed and they had to turn back, leaving them stranded in the air for an hour and a half. This disruption followed major strikes by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran, which led to Iran's response of launching missiles in Israel and nearby Gulf countries, causing an immediate shutdown of airspaces across the region. The group, including Haffner, initially panicked, but they were eventually returned to Doha, where they faced a chaotic scene at the airport. Queen's University has assured the group's safety and is in direct contact with faculty leaders to offer support and assistance. The university partners with International SOS to provide emergency assistance, and the group has access to 24-hour multilingual support, including help with flight arrangements. Global Affairs Canada has updated its travel advisories, warning Canadians of ongoing military activity in the region, and flights in and out of Canada to the region have faced cancellations and delays. This situation highlights the impact of geopolitical tensions on everyday travelers, leaving students stranded and anxious, but also emphasizing the support systems in place to assist them.
