Qantas jet takes 15‑hour flight to nowhere due to Mideast crisis

A Qantas Airways flight from Perth to Paris returned to its starting point after 15 hours in the air due to an Iranian missile attack that forced airspace closures in the Middle East.

The Boeing 787 jet departed Perth at 7.35 pm on Monday for a 17‑hour journey to Paris. It flew towards the southwest of Indian airspace when Qantas was informed about the missile attack. The aircraft turned back and landed safely in Perth at around 11 am on Tuesday.

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Another Qantas flight from Perth to London Heathrow was diverted to Singapore. The airline said both flights will be accommodated overnight. The changes will also affect the return flights from London and Paris.

Qantas said in a statement, “We are working through options for affected passengers.” The airline will continue to review airspace availability and adjust flight paths for its Europe services. This may include longer detours or refueling stops in Singapore due to security concerns in the Middle East.

The Iranian missile attack led to airspace closures across parts of the Middle East. Authorities in the region shut down large portions of their skies to civilian flights for safety reasons. Airlines that operate between Asia and Europe rely on routes over the Middle East and have had to respond quickly by delaying, rerouting, or cancelling flights.

This comes as tensions in the region have escalated, with governments issuing warnings about the risks of flying through affected airspace. Carriers like Qantas have previously adjusted their routes when security situations have changed. Airlines are closely monitoring developments and making decisions on a flight-by-flight basis depending on available airspace.