Qatar Airways flight lands in Adelaides after travellers face days of uncertainty

There were emotional scenes on Wednesday night when travellers caught up in the Middle East flight chaos and stuck overseas for days finally landed in Adelaide.

Weary travellers are greeted by friends and family as a flight from Doha touched down in Adelaide on Wednesday evening. Picture: Aden Hill

Emotions were sky-high in Adelaide Airport on Wednesday evening as passengers stranded in Doha finally touched down in South Australia.

Hundreds of family and friends crowded around International Arrivals to greet their loved ones, many bearing flowers and homemade signs welcoming them home, with many a tear shed when the passengers finally walked through the exit doors.

Wednesday evening’s Qatar Airways flight is one of the few to avoid cancellation as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, with the jet scheduled to fly back to Doha late on Wednesday night.

Adelaide flights on Thursday did not seem to be affected by the global conflict after days of chaos.

In one case, an extended family of more than 20 people waited nearly an hour for their loved ones, many sporting flowers and gifts.

Weary travellers are greeted by friends and family as a flight from Doha touched down in Adelaide on Wednesday evening. Picture: Aden Hill

When their loved ones arrived, everyone crowded in for a massive group photo in front of the International Arrivals sign.

One man who spoke to The Advertiser said his partner had been stuck in Doha Airport for 36 hours after her previous flights were cancelled due to the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

“I’ve been on the phone to her every night,” he said.

“It’s been really concerning, with all that’s happening over there.”

Friends and family await passengers of a flight from Doha to Adelaide on Wednesday evening. Picture: Aden Hill

“It’s comforting to know she’s landed back home.”

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said he and his partner had both been overseas, but he had returned early due to their house sustaining damage in the wild weather last month.

Due to only intending to briefly transit through Qatar, his partner did not have a place to stay, so was confined to the airport for nearly two days as she waited for a flight.

It came as international travellers continued to face difficulties with flights in and out of Adelaide cancelled on Wednesday and an Adelaide food influencer caught up in flight chaos following Iran’s air strikes on a US military base in Qatar.

Amanda Maiorana was on board her Qatar Airlines flight from Doha to Greece when the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Goa.

After two hours on the tarmac, the plane eventually flew back to Doha where Ms Maiorana faced a gruelling 15 hours in line trying to rebook an alternative flight.

“When the air strikes happened, we had no idea as there were no announcements on the plane besides from the TV maps suddenly showing that we were turning around and heading to India,” she said.

“It was all very hush hush.”

Despite the horror start to their holiday, she said passengers were relatively calm during the chaotic scenes.

“It did get a little heated at the 12-hour mark with people yelling at those who’d push in but overall was okay.”

Adelaide food influencer, Amanda Maiorana was stranded in Doha for 15 hours following Iran’s air strikes on US military base. Picture: Instagram @madeby.mandy

Amanda Maiorana is known for her food content. Picture: Instagram @madeby.mandy

Back in South Australia, an overnight flight from the Middle East set to land in Adelaide this morning was cancelled while a Qatar Airways flight from SA has also been canned on Wednesday.

Qatar Airways flight QR988 from Doha to Adelaide was due to land at 6.40am on Wednesday but was cancelled, with the 11:40am QR989 Adelaide to Melbourne service shelved

It comes after Qatar Airways flight QR914 from Doha, due to arrive in Adelaide on Tuesday afternoon, was cancelled.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, travellers from Doha landed at Adelaide Airport from Doha with the State of Qatar reopening its airspace before more cancellations followed.

Flights in and out of Doha Airport – a regular destination for connecting flights to Europe – have been subject to cancellations in the wake of Iran’s strike on a US base in Qatar. Picture Campbell Brodie.

A Welsh traveller, who landed in Adelaide from Doha on Tuesday morning, told ABC Radio the Doha airport was busy with confusion after the news bombs were going to hit the American air base.

“It was scary, I looked it up on a map, it’s not far from the airport,” he said.

“I was talking to a hostess on the plane and she was telling me she was worried about her car, it was in Doha.”

On Tuesday, an Adelaide Airport spokesman warned of “knock-on effects” from flight cancellations across the arrival and departure schedule.

Originally published as Qatar Airways flight lands in Adelaides after travellers face days of uncertainty