ATHENS, Greece: Dozens of dogs and cats arrived in Athens on March 18, with their owners aboard a special evacuation flight for Greeks with pets.

They were trapped in the Middle East due to the war in Iran.

Athens International Airport witnessed some emotional moments as small dogs happily jumped around after being taken out of their travel carriers. A special flight by Aegean Airlines from Abu Dhabi in the U.A.E. brought 45 pets and 101 people back home.

Nikos Chrysakis said pets are not just luggage but part of the family. He explained that the interior and foreign ministries worked together for days to make sure both people and animals returned safely.

Air travel across the Middle East has been badly affected by the conflict involving Iran, along with attacks by Israel and the United States. Many countries had to close their airspace, and thousands of flights were canceled in major travel hubs like Dubai and Qatar, leaving many travelers stuck.

For Danai Koukoulomati, it was essential to find a flight that would also take her cat, Muay Thai. She said her pet is family, and she would never leave him behind. However, she found it very difficult to find a flight that allowed animals, either in the cabin or in the cargo hold.

She added that during the conflict, her cat stayed calm, hiding in the bathroom during explosions, while she herself felt much more anxious.

Alexandra Papayanis, who had been living in Dubai for five years, returned with her dog Sirtaki and another dog for a friend. She also said it was very hard to find a flight that accepted pets. She stressed that pets are part of the family and bringing them home safely during such a crisis is very important. She described returning to Greece with her dog as a wonderful feeling.

Another traveler, Maria Theochari, said that leaving Dubai without her dog, Matisse, was impossible. She said she sees her pet as just one of her children and would never leave him behind.