Sarah Gaither was an hour into her flight home when the crew announced they were turning around. Unsafe airspace.

She'd been on vacation in Qatar. Now her plane was circling back to Doha on February 28. She checked her phone. News about U.S. and Israel attacks on Iran. Then the crew explained to panicked passengers what was happening.

"A lot of people had no clue what was happening, so there was a lot of panic on the plane," Gaither said.

The Qatar Airways flight burned fuel for hours before landing back at Hamad International Airport. Passengers waited until around 5 p.m. when staff said they could get hotel vouchers. Some travelers waited up to four hours for vouchers. Gaither booked her own hotel instead.

She's been stranded there since and travelers frequently hear missiles outside. Qatar's foreign ministry says more than 100 missiles and scores of drones were launched at the country. Most got shot down.

Gaither isn't alone. Travelers across the Middle East are stuck following U.S. strikes on Iran and the retaliation that followed. Nobody knows when flights will resume. "We have no clue," she said.

Birthday Trip Becomes War Zone

Lisa Simmons was visiting the Burj Khalifa on February 28. Saw what looked like drones or missiles in the distance. People around her asking "What's that?" Her husband checked the news on his phone. They grabbed a cab back to their hotel immediately.

One day into a Dubai birthday trip. They had a full week of tours booked. All canceled. They've been sheltering in their hotel since. Hearing explosions. A massive one around 2 a.m. Monday morning.

"You know, it's just very unsettling," the 55-year-old Atlanta resident said.

She booked through Gate 1 Travel. When she called for answers, she got shuffled between representatives without clear information about next steps or refunds.

Gate 1 VP of Marketing Marty Seslow said staff are working to keep travelers safe until airports reopen. Tour managers are staying with groups until they can depart. The company has a team supporting affected customers.

Simmons was supposed to leave March 7. She wants out earlier. Limited operations resumed at Dubai airports on March 2.

"I stood out on my balcony last night, and I heard explosions overhead that tells me I'm in a war zone," Simmons said. "That tells me there's potential for risk, and I don't want to take that risk if I don't have to."

State Department Issues Warning

The State Department issued a "worldwide caution" on February 28. Americans worldwide, especially in the Middle East, should follow guidance from the nearest embassy. Expect travel disruptions from periodic airspace closures. Exercise increased caution.

Qatar's airspace remains closed. Flights from Doha suspended. Qatar Airways offered to reimburse passengers for extra charges and issued change waivers. Gaither is waiting to rebook until operations resume.

Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip, said anyone connecting through Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi should assume continued disruption. Check flight status with the airline before heading to the airport. Look for flexible rebooking policies. Enroll in the State Department's STEP program for real-time alerts.

Gaither knows the situation is scary, but she feels comfortable flying out when able. Trying to keep perspective.

"Of course, I would love to be home, but I also recognize that there's a lot of other people in this situation, and it's not just a me situation, and there's people actually dying from this," she said. "So, I'll be okay."

If You're Stuck

Register with the nearest embassy for State Department updates on security threats.

Geopolitical conflicts aren't under airline control. Carriers may not be required to rebook you. But if the flight gets canceled, you're entitled to a refund even with a nonrefundable ticket. Most airlines will work to reaccommodate passengers.

Travel insurance may help cover costs if your trip gets disrupted after departure. Acts of war exclusions typically apply to cancellation coverage, not operational delays.

The U.S. government hasn't announced rescue flights for travelers stuck in the Middle East yet. Stay in touch with the local embassy if stranded.

The Bottom Line

Sarah Gaither's plane turned around an hour into her flight. She's been stuck in Doha since February 28 hearing missiles. Lisa Simmons went to Dubai for her birthday and ended up sheltering in her hotel hearing explosions. Both are waiting to find out when they can leave.

U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran closed airspace across the Middle East. Qatar's airspace still closed. Dubai has limited operations. Travelers connecting through those hubs should expect disruptions.

Airlines are offering waivers and reimbursements. But nobody knows when normal operations resume. The State Department says exercise caution. Register with embassies. Enroll in STEP.

No rescue flights announced. Stranded travelers are waiting in hotels, hearing explosions, hoping airspace reopens soon so they can finally go home.

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