Double Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu was stranded at Dubai International Airport on Saturday, February 28, 2026, as escalating tensions in the Middle East led to widespread flight suspensions, disrupting her travel to the All England Open badminton tournament in Birmingham.
Sindhu, en route to the prestigious tournament, documented the situation on her Instagram account, sharing visuals of the crowded airport and stating that “all flights [were] suspended until further notice.” The disruption occurred following missile launches by the US and Israel targeting Iran, triggering significant airspace closures across the region, including the UAE.
According to Gulf News, Sindhu assured fans of her safety, stating that she and her team were “doing okay as the situation continues to evolve.” She described the airport as “chaotic, with many families stranded and waiting,” and expressed hope for a swift resolution. The All England Open is a crucial event on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour.
The flight suspensions have raised concerns about Sindhu’s ability to reach Birmingham in time for the tournament’s commencement. Hindustan Times reported that the disruption could affect her training schedule, recovery plans, and overall preparation for the event.
India’s men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, but, safely arrived in Birmingham before the airspace closures fully took effect. Chirag Shetty posted an update on Instagram confirming their arrival, noting they landed “before US struck Iran.” Doubles coach Tan Kim Her and shuttler Dhruv Kapila were also with them.
The UAE intercepted a second wave of Iranian missiles targeting American assets, according to Gulf News, highlighting the severity of the escalating conflict. The airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain was largely devoid of commercial air traffic, according to reports from Reuters.
Sindhu was travelling with her support staff, including her physio, Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, and her strength and conditioning coach. As of Saturday evening, no revised flight schedules had been announced, leaving Sindhu and other passengers in a state of uncertainty.
