Man with fear of flying runs away from flight: Dubai Airport officials step in

Ever heard of aerophobia or aviophobia, which is the fear of flying? Many people suffer from this condition, and recently, in Dubai, the airport authorities had to step in to deal with a man who had a panic attack due to fear. Recently, one of the duty officers at the airport’s Terminal Service Delivery, Ahmad Abdulbaqi, spoke about the incident in a video shared by the Dubai Airport’s official X handle and how it was handled. Abdulbaqi said, “We noticed someone running around the area, so we approached him to see what was happening. His brother told us, ‘This is the fifth time we’ve visited the airport. We’ve booked the ticket and cleared everything, and then, when we get near immigration, he gets worried, cannot breathe, and refuses to travel.”

How was it handled?
The authorities spoke to the man to make him understand what he was going through. Abdulbaqi says, “We told him that he can’t breathe as he is scared. The main challenge was to make him understand his situation and to give him emotional support.” The airport staff helped the man overcome his fear of flying. Finally, he was able to fly home. After reaching home, the man’s brother, Muhammad Tabish, sent Abdulbaqi a message thanking him for his help and support.
He informed me that they had reached home safely and that his brother was calm during the flight. He wrote in the text message that Abdulbaqi was an angel sent by God and would include him in their prayers. He also thanked an employee named Saif for helping them.