MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A former Mossel Bay resident who had been visiting his parents in the town has been left stranded in Qatar after his Madrid-bound flight was forced to turn around mid-air amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
John Thackray left South Africa on Thursday 26 February after celebrating his parents’ 55th wedding anniversary in Mossel Bay.
He attended Park Primary School and Point High School during his school years.
He said the family marked the occasion with dinner at a restaurant at the Point before his departure.
Thackray was scheduled to return home to València via Cape Town, Doha and Madrid.
However, during his Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Madrid, the aircraft was diverted.
Thackray got this update from Qatar. Photo: supplied
“My Madrid-bound flight was diverted from Kuwait yesterday back to Doha, where we dropped fuel and did an emergency landing,” he told Mossel Bay Advertiser.
Thackray said the aircraft had been in the skies near Kuwait when it suddenly turned around.
After circling the Gulf for about four hours while missiles were reportedly being intercepted in the region, the plane returned to Doha and landed safely. Passengers then spent hours waiting at the airport.
“At 01:00 this morning (Sunday 1 March) I was woken on a couch at the airport to say they’re checking us into hotels,” he said.
Thackray is currently staying at the Pullman Doha West Bay in downtown Doha while awaiting updates on when regional airspace will reopen and flights can be rescheduled.
“It’s my birthday tomorrow (Monday 2 March) and it seems I’ll spend it alone here,” he added.
Thackray at pool in Doha. Photo: supplied
“Qatar have just advised the next update will be tomorrow at 09:00.” The disruption comes as several countries in the region have closed or restricted their airspace as a precautionary measure.
Thackray said his brother lives in Abu Dhabi, where there have also been reports of intercepted missiles.
Despite the uncertainty, he remains composed.
“I think we feel safer than my mom Ena thinks we are, back in Mossel Bay,” he said.
For now, like many other international travellers affected by the closures, Thackray is waiting for clarity on when he will be able to continue his journey home to Spain.
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