Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Plane Carrying Over 300 Koreans Departs from Qatar" (Comprehensive)

by Lee Hanna

Published 09 Mar.2026 17:10(KST)

Arrival in Incheon Around Midnight on the 10th

Due to the situation in the Middle East, more than 300 Koreans who were stranded in Qatar departed for Korea at approximately 3:45 p.m. on the 9th (local time 9:45 a.m.) aboard an emergency Qatari commercial flight.

Around 300 Koreans who were stranded in Qatar departed for Korea on the afternoon of the 9th at around 3:45 PM (9:45 AM local time) aboard a Qatar Airways flight. Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 300 Koreans boarded a Qatar Airways flight departing from Doha on the afternoon of the same day and are scheduled to arrive in Korea at 12:21 a.m. the following day.

Currently, Qatari airspace is only partially open, with only some emergency flights to Europe operating. However, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Qatar has actively requested the resumption of flights from the Qatari government and airlines to facilitate the return of Korean nationals. In response, the Qatari government accepted the embassy's request the previous day and arranged an emergency flight to Korea with 395 seats, departing on the 9th.

The embassy contacted approximately 400 Koreans identified through prior demand surveys and confirmed that 303 intended to board the flight. However, since there were some individuals who did not arrive at the airport and new passengers hoping to board, the exact number of travelers is still being confirmed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "We will make every effort to ensure that all citizens who have not yet returned from other Middle Eastern countries can return home quickly and safely."