Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Mar 1: As many as 84 MBA students from Pune-based Indira School of Business Studies (ISBS) were stranded in Dubai following airspace closures triggered by the escalating conflict in West Asia.

The students had travelled to Dubai as part of their annual five-day study tour. Institute officials confirmed that all students and accompanying staff members are safe and have been shifted to a hotel.

According to ISBS authorities, 40 students were scheduled to return to Pune on Saturday, while the remaining 44 were to board a flight on Sunday. However, both groups were unable to travel due to the sudden closure of airspace amid rising tensions in the region.

“All are safe and have been moved to a hotel,” ISBS Dean Janardhan Pawar said.

Indira Group of Institutes Chairperson Tarita Shankar stated that the institute is in constant contact with the stranded students and staff. “All students and the staff are safe. We are in constant touch with them. We are also coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs as well as with the Ministry of Civil Aviation. They will be brought back at the earliest,” she said.

The airspace disruption followed a major escalation in West Asia after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in an attack by Israel and the United States, according to Iranian state media early Sunday.

Flight operations across several parts of the Middle East were affected, with reports of air defence activity over Dubai, the commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates, further intensifying concerns.