A dramatic in-flight experience left Dubai-based TV host Wissam Breidy profoundly shaken after he captured a photograph of Iranian missiles streaking across the night sky while flying with his family over Qatar. His startling image and subsequent account on social media quickly went viral, highlighting the tense reality of regional conflicts.
The incident occurred following Iran’s launch of missiles targeting US bases in the region, specifically the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
A Terrifying Personal Encounter
Wissam Breidy shared the harrowing details on Instagram, recounting the fear and unsettling familiarity of the scene. Growing up in Lebanon, he experienced conflict firsthand, remembering “moving from one place to another with our parents, hoping we will be safe from the next missile.”
However, seeing missiles mid-air while on a flight with his “wife and two little daughters” felt different, carrying “a whole new weight.” He wrote, “Watching from the plane window as missiles lit up the skies above Qatar. The same fear, but a whole new weight. Because it’s not your own life that scares you it’s the lives of those you love more than anything in the world.” His post included several images, notably the one taken from inside the aircraft showing the missile trails against the dark sky.
Amidst Regional Tensions
This unsettling sighting took place during a period of heightened military activity in the Middle East. While the missiles Breidy witnessed were reportedly part of Iran’s volley targeting Al Udeid Air Base – a key hub for US military operations – the region has also seen significant missile exchanges between Iran and Israel around this time. Reports indicate Iran has launched missiles towards Israeli cities, while Israel has targeted Iranian military and nuclear facilities, contributing to an already volatile atmosphere. The presence of missiles in the skies over Qatar underscored the far-reaching impact of these conflicts.
Qatari authorities later condemned Iran’s attack on the Al Udeid airbase, confirming that the incoming missiles were successfully intercepted over Doha with no casualties reported at the base itself. The launches were reportedly conducted under “Operation Basharat al-Fath”.
Praise for Calm and Stability
In the face of the alarming situation, Breidy also took a moment to commend the composure of the flight crew. “Special thanks to the captain,” he wrote, acknowledging the pilot’s calm handling of the situation.
He also expressed deep gratitude for the sense of stability provided by the UAE during such uncertain times. He described the country as feeling like “solid ground in uncertain moments,” consistently offering a “sense of protection, of order, of strength even when the world around is shaking.”
The TV host’s viral photo serves as a stark reminder of how geopolitical tensions can unexpectedly intersect with civilian life, even thousands of feet in the air.
