The national carrier, in a social media update, said the flight carried 149 passengers and 8 crew members.
“We are happy to welcome our guests and crew from Dubai aboard flight AI916D,” the social media post read.” This is the first flight by an Indian carrier to arrive in New Delhi today with 149 passengers and 8 operating crew members onboard, amid the ongoing situation in the Middle East,” it read.
Air India has also shared images showing the crew and passengers looking visibly happy as the flight landed in the national capital.
We are happy to welcome our guests and crew from Dubai aboard flight AI916D. This is the first flight by an Indian carrier to arrive in New Delhi today with 149 passengers and 8 operating crew members onboard, amid the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
A heartfelt thank you… pic.twitter.com/7EnRf2MA16— Air India Newsroom (@AirIndia_News) March 3, 2026
The airline expressed gratitude to its teams and various authorities. “A heartfelt thank you to our teams, the Government of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the local authorities in Dubai for their continued cooperation and for making this homecoming possible.”
“There’s no better feeling than bringing our guests and crew back home,” wrote Air India in its next post. In the pictures, passengers and crew are seen smiling and showing the victory sign.
There’s no better feeling than bringing our guests and crew back home❤️#AirIndia pic.twitter.com/p8mITx2YdZ
— Air India Newsroom (@AirIndia_News) March 3, 2026
Shortly after Air India’s update, several passengers took to the airline’s comment section seeking information about their cancelled flights.
One wrote, “Our flight was booked with Air India which got cancelled.! And now we are stuck in UAE.? What about us? Give us update? What are we suppose to do?”
Another asked, “When is the next flight that will board from Dubai to anywhere India? My parents are stuck there and they have a flight booked for tomorrow 4th March, 11.45 am.”
Some passengers also commended Air India for its efforts in resuming flights.
“Well done Air India. Let’s hope we can bring all of our Indian brethren home safe” wrote the next.
“That’s beautiful…. thank you each and every one is safe now, commented another.
As of now, no other Indian airline has restarted operations from Dubai. Recently, SpiceJet cancelled multiple flights, including return journeys, between India and the UAE on March 2 and 3.
Dubai Airports has allowed only a limited number of flights to resume after airspace closures triggered by the escalating Iran‑Israel‑US conflict.
The partial reopening began on the evening of March 2 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), but normal operations remain suspended.
The closures followed missile and drone strikes by Iran across the Gulf in response to a joint Israeli‑American military operation that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
