Marty Gruszka couldn't believe his eyes as missiles rained down on Doha airport.
The Melburnian, his wife and three children were evacuated moments after they boarded a plane that was set to take them to Rome for a European holiday.
They waited for three hours on the tarmac as the situation deteriorated.
"We could see missiles flying outside over the airport and sirens were going off, so a lot of panic," Mr Gruszka told 7.30.
"My kids were crying, my wife was freaking out."
Mr Gruszka is one of the thousands of Australian travellers stranded in the Middle East after the airspace around Iran was closed in the wake of US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic, which
He said the missiles launched by Iran in retaliatory strikes have not stopped as they target sites in numerous neighbouring countries, including Qatar, where the military has been intercepting missile attacks.
"Soon after we came to our hotel that night … missiles were flying everywhere," he said.
"I've never seen this before, so I wanted to see it … I guess we're all a bit nervous about that, but it seems like the air defence is pretty solid here."
Dramatic footage in Doha showed a missile falling from the sky and crashing into a nearby neighbourhood.
While many are frustrated at being stranded, Mr Gruszka understands why airlines have cancelled flights as missiles crisscross the sky.
"It's a suicide mission to be flying in the skies here right now," Mr Gruszka said.
"We reckon we could be here for two weeks, who knows? As long as they keep firing missiles, we're stuck here."
Australians struggle with DFAT
Queenslander Abby Hayes is stranded in Dubai, where Iranian missiles struck a luxury hotel and the airport.
She had also just boarded a plane when she was ordered to evacuate.
"I walked outside yesterday to go get some groceries and of course, you're immediately scanning the skyline," Ms Hayes said.
"I don't even know what a missile would look like, so it is scary."
Ms Hayes has a four-year-old daughter back home.
"There's always this existential threat as a mother, travelling anyway, that you shouldn't be leaving your child, and what if you don't get to come back?
"I am just remaining hopeful and trying not to think about it too much."
Ms Hayes said she had trouble getting through to DFAT for assistance.
"I got the link to sign up to register as an Australian in a crisis situation and I haven't heard anything yet."
The UK said it was considering evacuation options for its citizens, including by land, but as yet the Australian government has not committed to any repatriation flights as it did during the global COVID shutdown.
It said the resumption of commercial flights would be the best option for Australians.
The federal opposition said the government should do all it can, including considering using military planes.
Mr Gruszka was not holding the government responsible for the situation.
"I could rip into the Australian government, but I just don't see logically what they can do," he said.
"If the airspace was open, then obviously I would expect the Australian government to help us get out immediately."
Ms Hayes said she would like swifter action.
"I would like to be flown home," she said.
"I would just like there to be someone, somewhere responsible for taking Australian citizens back to Australia."
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