Baltimore County traveler describes being stranded in Doha after airspace closures amid escalating Iran conflict
A Maryland resident caught in a rapidly changing security environment
A Baltimore County woman says she has been unable to leave Doha, Qatar, after regional airspace closures and nearby military activity disrupted commercial travel as the conflict involving Iran intensified in late February and early March 2026.
The traveler, Anjali Sharma of Owings Mills, said she was returning from a solo trip for a family wedding in India when she chose to extend a layover in Qatar. She said she arrived for a 24-hour stopover on Feb. 28, 2026, planning to explore the country before continuing her trip.
Emergency alerts and reported attacks near a U.S. facility
Sharma said she was on a desert safari tour when she received multiple emergency alerts and the group abruptly moved back toward the hotel. She said she was near a U.S. air base when an attack began and described seeing missiles in the sky. From her hotel in Doha, she said, she has continued to hear explosions at night.
The timing coincides with a broader regional disruption to aviation and shipping routes after the start of the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, followed by retaliatory strikes across parts of the Gulf region. The closures have left travelers dependent on limited overland options, irregular flight availability, and embassy messaging that can change quickly as host governments adjust security measures.
Airspace closures and limited routes out
With Qatari airspace closed, Sharma said she has been receiving daily updates indicating that flights remain suspended. She said she enrolled in the U.S. government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and attempted to reach U.S. officials while looking for viable routes home.
She also described hearing of other travelers paying large sums for private transport to reach airports in neighboring countries, including an overland trip toward Saudi Arabia that she characterized as difficult to arrange because public transportation options were limited and travelers were relying on private cars.
“The only update that I officially get every day at 9 a.m. is that the Qatar airspace is still closed,” Sharma said.
What U.S. officials have said about assistance
U.S. officials have stated that tens of thousands of American citizens have returned to the United States from the Middle East during the crisis and that additional travelers have departed to third countries or remain in transit. Officials also said a 24/7 task force has provided assistance to thousands of Americans abroad, including security guidance and travel-related support.
Sharma said she has turned to social media while waiting for clearer options, describing extended uncertainty about when travel will resume and what help might be available for Americans unable to leave.
- Traveler’s itinerary: India wedding trip with a Feb. 28, 2026 layover extended in Doha
- Disruption: closure of Qatari airspace and security incidents near U.S. facilities
- Actions taken: STEP enrollment, repeated attempts to contact officials, exploring overland routes
As regional military activity continues and aviation restrictions remain in effect, stranded travelers face shifting guidance and a narrowing set of safe, affordable departure options—conditions that can evolve rapidly with each new exchange in the conflict.