Austin-area Congressman Lloyd Doggett said they are helping five families from Central Texas get back home through charter flights.

AUSTIN, Texas — Air travel disruption tied to rising tensions in the Middle East are leaving hundreds to thousands of Americans stranded as the U.S. and Israel intensify attacks on Iran.

The growing crisis has left some Austinites stuck in Dubai, even as the U.S. State Department is taking in requests and issuing charter flights to evacuate people.

“I’m willing to do anything to get out of here,” said Blaga Trankaroff, who has been stuck in Dubai. 

Trankaroff and her husband were forced to shelter in place at a hotel after their flight was abruptly cancelled on Saturday when they were set to fly back home. 

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who represents part of the Austin area in Congress, said he’s been working with five families, including the Trankaroff’s, to get them back home. While they were set to fly into Europe Thursday morning, that flight was also cancelled.

“Americans have been placed in a very dangerous and stressful situation,” Doggett said. “I hope the promises that we’ve heard [Wednesday], these charter flights will be fulfilled.”

According to a travel advisory update from Emirates Airlines, flights to and from Dubai are suspended until March 7 at 11:59 p.m. 

To add insult to injury, the Trankaroff’s are reeling from a personal tragedy. Their son was a witness to the West Sixth Street mass shooting over the weekend that claimed the lives of three people, including their son’s best friend, 19-year-old Ryder Harrington.

“They’ve known each other for 11 years and they were best friends, and we kind of felt like Ryder was our other son,” the Trankaroff’s said. “It’s just, we feel so helpless here, so helpless.”

Trankaroff added that Harrington’s funeral is Friday, and they won’t make it.

Other travelers longing to be back in Austin have described the frustration of feeling trapped, with the hope of another flight not getting cancelled.

“Flights are extremely limited, and they’re very difficult to secure. I mean, I’ve already had three flights canceled since [March 1],” said Austinite Amber Manzinilla, who is also stuck in Dubai. “I have three children at home, and I’ve been gone a long time. The uncertainty is just so hard for me and for them – I just need to get home to my children.”

The U.S. Department of State is asking people who are looking to get out of the Middle East to call +1-202-501-4444.