Travelers trying to reach certain destinations are seriously grounded.

As a result of the U.S. and Israel bombing Iran on February 28, 2026, which killed Iran leader Ali Khamenei, along with subsequent attacks between countries within the Middle East, that region’s airspace remains closed. Not since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has the world experienced flight chaos at this level. 

What this means is that travelers trying to reach certain destinations are seriously grounded—and these destinations are not all in the Middle East. Even if your travel plans are not in Iraq or to a nearby nation with closed airspace, you still may have to cut the cord on a trip. You might be facing a multi-day layover at a city en route, or among the unlucky people still waiting for a return flight home two weeks since the February 28 attack. Either way, watching airport monitors and tracking flights on airline apps, while also paying thousands of dollars in unexpected hotel or short-term rental stays is the current reality.

Here are 10 destinations that are really, really hard to fly to right now due to the closure of the Middle East airspace. While there is talk of repatriated flights, booking private flights, and some people even driving to other countries to catch flights from there, it all boils down to snarled travel plans. If you can, it’s recommended to rebook your trip for a later date.