American stranded in Qatar Its really scary

The State Department's telling all Americans to leave the Middle East, but as Louie just pointed out, airport shutdowns, airspace closures, and widespread flight suspensions are complicating these evacuations. Aviation analytics company Cirium reports 19,000 flights scheduled to arrive or depart from the Middle East have been canceled since Saturday. Texas resident Oliver Sims was returning from friend's wedding in India when he got stuck on layover in Qatar. Now, he's joining us from Doha as he's still trying to get out. Hi Oliver, thanks for coming on. I'm so sorry you're going through this. Yeah, it you know what, it is what it is. So, never thought I'd be stuck stuck in this experience, but you know, we're we're just living through it minute by minute. What's it like there in Doha? Have you seen any of these Iranian attacks? have, yes. I've actually been woken up by several of them. For instance, yesterday morning was woken up by like three to four extremely loud explosions. And then last night was trying to go to sleep and around 1:30 in the morning also heard some, and then looked out my window and saw bunch of the debris that was raining down outside of my hotel window. So, yeah. What went through your head as you saw that? How are you feeling? was definitely shaken by that. It's very jarring, too, because it's not just how loud it is, just how like it actually physically shakes you. The rumbling is really really just violent as well. So, it it's really something that, you know, you never thought you'd experience, and you know, anytime it's happened, but just kind of shut down little bit because just cannot believe it's happening. What's your biggest concern right now, and what are people there telling you? Honestly, my biggest concern would just be like, you know, how do get out safely? You know, I've explored so many different options as to how can get out. know that there have been some people that have been able to get out through like maybe like private security companies or anything else like that, but it's just what's the best path forward because every single path that want to take it can be very risky. So, think that's mainly what it is and however people here are definitely saying that you know Doha is one of the safest places here to be and that you know you should just stay put and just you know live through it at the moment. So, what are the risks of trying to get out and what are you hearing about potentially getting flight? Yeah, so there are several different risks. It's like you know are some of the roads that you want to take to either like Saudi Arabia or Oman are they safe? Now, obviously don't know the veracity of that but people have just been talking they're like you know should you do that? Are you should you even risk going to Riyadh cuz know that you know there has been like potential hit there. There's just so many different things that people have been bringing up and bring to my attention bring to so many other people's attention and you know no one really knows like what's the best way out of here. What's your backup plan if the airport stays closed? Honestly, my backup plan is probably just to stay here and stay put. have made several different connections while was here. do have couple friends that do live here in Doha. So, I'm going to try my best to to you know utilize my resources here make sure that I'm safe and sound here as well. I've already gotten bunch of food and water and lot of different supplies just in case need it as well but yeah, it's just to utilize my resources here on the ground. mean I'm so glad to hear that you it seems you're safe right now Oliver but what do you want American officials to know about what you're going through there? It's really scary here. For instance like was just few minutes ago listening to some explosions that are going off above my head and you know know that officials have said you know use commercial means but there are really no commercial means here for us to use. So, it's really difficult to try and figure out way out and and it's just hard it really is hard being here. All right, Oliver Sims in Doha, Qatar. We appreciate your time today. Oliver, good luck to you. Thank you so much. Thank you.