German entrepreneur Franjo Pooth, husband of well-known presenter Verona Pooth, has reached his fourteen-year-old son Rocco in Dubai. The journey, lasting nearly two days, was fraught with danger due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. After a forced stopover in Istanbul and changes to transport plans, father and son were finally reunited. Verona Pooth provided real-time updates on these dramatic events via social media, expressing immense concern for her family's safety.

Happy Ending to the Journey

Franjo Pooth reached his son in Dubai after dozens of hours of anxious waiting and route changes.

Problems in Istanbul

The entrepreneur was stranded in Turkey due to the closure of airspace over Arab countries.

A Teenager Alone

Rocco Pooth was staying in the Emirates without supervision, triggering a media alarm raised by his mother, Verona.

Franjo Pooth, husband of German media icon Verona Pooth, has concluded a multi-hour, risky journey aimed at reaching his fourteen-year-old son Rocco, who was staying alone in Dubai. The situation became critical when, due to the outbreak of hostilities and the closure of airspace over the Middle East, Rocco became trapped in the Emirates without parental supervision. Franjo Pooth immediately set out from Germany, but his journey encountered numerous obstacles, including a forced landing in Istanbul, where the entrepreneur was stranded for over a dozen hours. Faced with canceled commercial flights, Pooth considered alternative routes, including travel through dangerous regions using an armored vehicle. Ultimately, after dramatic attempts to find a safe connection, he managed to reach his destination. Verona Pooth, who remained in Europe, regularly updated her followers on the expedition's status, not hiding her fear for her husband and son. Rocco, referred to by his mother as „Roccolito”, had previously reassured the public via social media, stating that despite the isolation, he was doing fine and awaiting rescue. The Middle East has for decades remained a region of high geopolitical instability, where sudden escalations of armed conflicts lead to the immediate paralysis of civilian air transport. The details of Franjo Pooth's journey illustrate the scale of chaos caused by the conflict in March 2026. The change from the original flight route to a complicated combination of connections demonstrates the high risk the father took to secure his child. This event resonated widely in German media, which tracked every stage of this „modern-day odyssey,” highlighting the emotional dimension of the crisis for the Pooth family. The family is now focused on a safe return home, which, given the limited airport capacity, still poses a logistical challenge. „Roccolito ist ganz alleine in Dubai” (Roccolito is all alone in Dubai) — Verona Pooth

Mentioned People

  • Franjo Pooth — German entrepreneur and husband of Verona Pooth, who set out to rescue his son.
  • Verona Pooth — German celebrity and television presenter, mother of Rocco.
  • Rocco Pooth — Fourteen-year-old son of Verona and Franjo, who was staying alone in Dubai.