‘I Booked 12 Flights… All Cancelled’: Indian-Origin CEO Stuck in Dubai Slams US Government
What was supposed to be a routine business trip has turned into a stressful ordeal for an Indian-origin CEO now stranded in Dubai. As tensions escalate in the Middle East and flights continue to be cancelled across the region, the entrepreneur has publicly criticized the United States government for what he says is a lack of support for Americans trying to return home.
His message has quickly spread online, sparking debate about evacuation efforts and how governments respond when their citizens are stranded abroad during a crisis.
A Business Trip That Turned Into a Crisis
Soups Ranjan, an Indian-origin entrepreneur and the CEO of the US-based fintech startup Sardine, had travelled to Dubai for meetings with financial institutions focused on combating financial fraud. The trip was meant to be short and routine.
Instead, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupted flights across the region, leaving him unable to return to the United States.
Ranjan says he has tried repeatedly to leave the city but has been unsuccessful due to constant flight cancellations.
“I Booked a Dozen Flights”
In a post shared on social media, the startup founder revealed the extent of the struggle he has faced trying to return home.
According to him, he booked around 12 different flights from Dubai to the United States, hoping one of them would operate. However, every single one ended up being cancelled as travel disruptions continued.
The repeated cancellations have left him stuck in the city with limited options to leave.
“I Feel Demoralised and Abandoned”
The situation has taken an emotional toll on the entrepreneur. After several days of uncertainty, Ranjan wrote that he feels “demoralised and abandoned” by the US government.
He explained that he became a naturalised American citizen because he believed in the idea that the United States would support its citizens during emergencies. But the current situation has made him question that belief.
In his post, he said the crisis has been filled with constant anxiety as he tries to find a way back home while watching flights get cancelled one after another.
Watching Other Countries Bring Citizens Home
One of Ranjan’s biggest frustrations, he said, is seeing other countries act quickly to bring their citizens back while Americans appear to be left on their own.
He noted that governments such as India, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France and Israel have been actively arranging evacuation or repatriation efforts for their citizens during the ongoing crisis.
For him, watching these efforts from Dubai has been difficult. He says it feels like the US government has taken no meaningful action to help Americans trapped in the region.
Calls for Action From the US Government
In his public message, Ranjan made several requests to the US government.
He urged officials to ensure that airlines continue operating flights to the United States, organize evacuation flights if necessary, and provide a functioning emergency hotline for citizens seeking assistance.
According to him, the helpline number provided by the US State Department only plays a recorded message advising Americans not to rely on government-assisted evacuation at the moment.
For stranded travelers, that message has only added to the frustration.
A Larger Travel Crisis
Ranjan’s situation is part of a wider travel disruption affecting thousands of passengers across the Middle East. Escalating tensions and security concerns in the region have led to widespread flight cancellations and airspace restrictions, leaving many travelers stranded in cities such as Dubai.
Airlines have suspended or reduced operations, creating uncertainty for travelers who are trying to return home.
While authorities and airlines continue to monitor the situation, many passengers remain stuck waiting for flights to resume.
A Viral Moment of Frustration
Ranjan’s post has resonated with many people online, particularly Americans currently travelling in the region. His comments reflect a growing sense of anxiety among travelers who fear they could be stranded abroad without clear evacuation plans.
For the Indian-origin CEO, the experience has been a sobering reminder of how quickly a normal business trip can turn into an unexpected crisis.
As flights remain uncertain and tensions continue in the region, one question remains for many stranded travelers: when will they finally be able to go home?