Indians deboard Emirates flight after Trump’s H-1B fee order, 3-hour delay reported
Babushhai Bureau
San Francisco (US), September 20, 2025 – Panic erupted on an Emirates flight bound for India after US President Donald Trump announced a steep $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas on Friday.
As reported by NDTV, the sudden move triggered anxiety among several Indian travelers, many of whom chose to deboard the aircraft moments before take-off, causing a three-hour delay.
Videos shared by passengers from inside the plane showed confused scenes—some people standing in the aisles, others glued to their phones, and many uncertain about whether the flight would eventually leave.
In one clip, the captain can be heard addressing passengers, acknowledging the unusual situation:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain. Due to the current, unprecedented circumstances, we understand some passengers no longer wish to continue their journey. That’s absolutely fine, but if you want to leave, please do so now," he announced.
A passenger who posted the footage online described the mood as “chaotic,” saying the new visa fee order created widespread fear among Indians worried about their ability to return to the US.
“We were stuck for over three hours in the same spot, waiting for the flight to finally take off,” the passenger added.