DMW: Filipino repatriates safe despite delayed flight after Qatari airspace closure

Metro Manila, Philippines - The return of 31 Filipinos was delayed after Qatar closed its airspace following an attack on a US airbase, but the repatriates are safely awaiting a new flight, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said.

The overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were expected to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday morning, June 24, through a commercial repatriation flight from Doha.

The group is composed of 26 Filipinos from Israel, three from Jordan, one from Palestine, and one from Qatar.

“We were asked to deplane and stay safely inside the terminal at Doha Hamad International Airport,” Cacdac said in a post on X past 3 a.m. (Manila time).

In another statement, Cacdac said the OFWs were “safe and sound.”

He said the Qatari airspace was reopened and they were awaiting confirmation of their new flight schedule.

The development came after Iran launched a missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base, an American air base in Qatar, on Monday.

The United States on Sunday joined Israel’s campaign against Iran as it launched missiles at Tehran’s three nuclear sites.

The Philippine Embassy in Qatar also advised Filipinos “to shelter in place until further notice.”

According to the embassy, the Qatari government reported no deaths and injuries amid the missile attack.

“All Filipinos are urged to continue monitoring the news and heed the advisories issued by local authorities and the Embassy,” it said.

As of Monday, the Philippine Embassy in Israel said 311 Filipinos have requested repatriation.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced there will be a ceasefire between Israel and Iran with a view to ending the 12-day conflict between the two Middle East nations.

There was no immediate comment yet from Israel. While an Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, the country's foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks.

- With reports from Reuters