Qantas Flight Turns Back to Perth After Middle East Turmoil

Sat Oct 18 2025 16:02:43 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Passengers face a 15-hour round trip as flight to Paris returns due to airspace closures amid regional conflict.

A Qantas flight from Perth, Australia, intended for Paris, was forced to return after 15 hours of flight time, impacted by airspace closures due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The situation unfolded as Iran retaliated against U.S. actions, causing significant diversions for flights in the affected areas.

A Qantas Airlines flight from Perth, Australia, made headlines on Monday as it turned around mid-journey, returning to its origin after a staggering 15 hours in the air. Initially slated to reach Paris, the flight QF33 was impacted by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, necessitating the diversion due to temporary airspace closures.

The flight took off from Perth Airport at 7:51 p.m. local time on Monday but had to abandon its course over the Arabian Sea. According to FlightAware, which tracks flight data, the aircraft ended up landing back in Perth at 11:04 a.m. local time on Tuesday, culminating in a frustrating travel experience for passengers.

Qantas Airlines stated that the decision to return was prompted by "additional airspace closures and congestion through the Middle East," which were reportedly triggered by heightened military actions in the region. On the same day, another flight also originating from Perth to London was diverted to Singapore due to similar concerns.

Tensions escalated significantly over the weekend as Iran launched an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a U.S. military installation, in retaliation for American strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. Travel disruptions in the Middle East have led to significant adjustments for airlines, leaving some passengers stranded or redirected as airspace safety remains under scrutiny.