Ajay Rotti, CEO of Bengaluru-based Tax Compass, said he had to cancel his Dubai plan amid escalating tensions in the region amid the Israeli-American conflict with Iran that led to the killing of the Islamic country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Rotti said he was originally scheduled to fly from New York to Dubai before returning to India. But his flight to Dubai was canceled at the last minute due to Iran’s strike on the city, forcing him to use Air India’s direct flight to India.
“I only came to New York for 2 days and what a time I chose!!! I was supposed to board a @emirates flight to Dubai 2 hours ago that got cancelled,” Rotti said in a post on X. “I was supposed to spend 2 days in my Dubai office. That’s not happening now. Hope Dubai gets back to normal soon! Prayers.”
In a tweet, the CEO joked that it was “bad timing to be on the other side of the globe.”
‘Maharaja Gets Me Home’
Glad to be back in India, Ajay Rotti thanked Air India for flying him home during the escalating conflict.
“Always a strange feeling to see an @airindia plane outside of India. But today it’s a totally different feeling. 100x normal feeling,” X wrote in his post.
“Now the Maharaja is getting me home.🙏 And nonstop!!! Last minute booking. Literally. Just boarded. 🤞 Thanks @airindia,” he added.
What’s happening in Dubai?
Reuters reported that explosions were heard across the Gulf as Iran responded with a salvo of missiles, including in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi and Dubai, causing Dubai International Airport to suspend all flights.
According to a Reuters report, several loud gunshots were heard in Dubai on Sunday morning. Fresh explosions were also heard across the gulf in Dubai, Doha and Bahrain’s Manama, AFP reported.
Almost 11 explosions were heard in the sky above the Qatari capital, Al Jazeera reported. Sirens went off in Kuwait and Israel as Iran continued its retaliatory attacks.
Israel said it launched new strikes on Iran on Sunday after the killing of its top leader.
Several celebrities got stuck in Dubai
Several celebrities including actor Kannappa Vishnu Manchu, Jannat actress Sonal Chauhan and badminton star PV Sindhu were reported to be stranded in Dubai due to flight cancellations amid the conflict.
