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First UK government evacuation flight lands at Stansted
The inaugural UK-chartered flight carrying British nationals from Oman touched down at London Stansted Airport at 00:53 GMT on Friday, following a near 24-hour delay due to technical issues. The flight, originally set to depart Muscat on Wednesday night, eventually took off on Thursday evening local time.
Over 140,000 Britons registered in the region
The UK Foreign Office has recorded more than 140,000 British nationals across the Middle East, as retaliatory strikes by Iran followed US-Israeli airstrikes in the region. Dubai, a hub for British expatriates and tourists, has faced direct attacks since Saturday, damaging Dubai International Airport and several luxury hotels.
Evacuees describe frantic journeys to safety
Fazal Chowdhury, a Dubai resident, called the experience "a little bit surreal." He and his wife drove to Muscat immediately after seeing reports of attacks on Dubai. "We just made a run for it straight away," he told the BBC after landing at Stansted. The couple checked into a Muscat hotel and waited for the flight, counting themselves "very lucky" to secure seats.
Amelia Reid and Samuel Sharp, who arrived in Dubai for a weekend trip, spent four days on edge after missile alerts forced them to shelter in a hotel car park. "We ended up sleeping in a car park in the basement with about 100 other people," Sharp said. The couple left Dubai at noon on Thursday, traveling by coach to Muscat in hopes of boarding the government flight.
Families endure long waits and restricted airspace
One unnamed man fled Dubai with his young family over the weekend, driving to Oman and spending 36 hours at Muscat International Airport before the flight departed. He described the wait as "terrible."
Airspace restrictions remain severe across the Middle East, grounding or limiting flights over Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE, and Israel. The Foreign Office initially prioritized vulnerable individuals, offering seats only to British nationals, their spouses or partners, and children under 18.
Government expands evacuation efforts
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced British Airways would operate daily flights from Oman, with additional charter flights planned in the coming days. "The people who arrived back included vulnerable Brits," he said. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy confirmed 6,500 Britons have returned from the UAE and reiterated the government's commitment to increasing evacuation capacity.
"It is our intention and our hope to see more charter flights out of Oman and more commercial flights out of the region over the coming hours and days."
David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister
Eligible evacuees are required to pay for their seats on government flights. The Foreign Office has urged British nationals to register their presence in Oman and await contact rather than traveling directly to Muscat International Airport.
