'Saara Paisa Dub Gaya': IITian's Dream Italy Trip Ruined As Dubai Airspace Shuts Down

New Delhi: A trip that was meant to be a exciting two-week getaway across Italy turned into absolute disappointment and financial loss for a young Indian researcher, as sudden airspace closures over Dubai scrapped his travel plans amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Who is this researcher?

Sumanth Doddapaneni, a PhD scholar at IIT Madras and a researcher at Sarvam AI, had spent the past week excitedly planning his first major relax break after a year of intensive work. His plan of a journey included visits to Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples and Sorrento

However, just hours before his departure, Sumanth’s excitement turned to frustration. A sudden shutdown of airspace over Dubai, triggered by  conflict in West Asia following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights across the region. 

Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest transit hubs, and other Gulf airports halted both departures and arrivals, leaving passengers with no option but to cancel or delay travel. 

What did Sumanth say? 

Taking to X, Sumanth expressed his displeasure with the help of viral phrase: "Saara paisa dub gaya", which means "all the money has sunk." 

"I spent the last one week making bookings, after a year of working on the models I thought this was my time for a vacation," Sumanth wrote on X.

When someone asked why a Middle East issue disrupted his European trip, he responded, "My flight is through Dubai, the airspace is closed."

"Starting tomorrow I was gonna go on a 2 week solo trip in Italy starting from Milan -> Bologna -> Florence -> Rome -> Naples -> Sorrento. Now I'm sad and in blr,” he added, where "blr" means Bengaluru.

Sumanth, currently in Bengaluru, tried to find a silver lining, joking, "On the bright side I guess I'm alive!" despite the setback. 

I spent the last one week making bookings, after a year of working on the models I thought this was my time for a vacation.

Starting tom I was gonna go on a 2 week solo trip in Italy starting from Milan -> Bologna -> Florence -> Rome -> Naples -> Sorrento. Now I'm sad and in blr…

— Sumanth (@sumanthd17) February 28, 2026

Why is airspace shut?

Flights across the Middle East were cancelled Saturday after several countries closed their airspace following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Major airlines, including Air France, Air India, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, Air Algérie, and Lufthansa, announced widespread flight cancellations.