UK Rescue Flight for Stranded Britons Delayed in Middle East
The first UK government-chartered rescue flight aimed at bringing stranded British nationals home from the Middle East was delayed on March 5, remaining grounded in Muscat, Oman, due to what ministers described as "operational reasons" related to boarding passengers.
Home Office minister Alex Norris confirmed the flight would now depart on Thursday, though he could not specify a time. The delay affects one of several planned evacuation efforts as an estimated 138,000 British nationals in the region have registered for government assistance, with 112,000 of those in the UAE alone.
The government has confirmed two additional chartered flights will depart by the end of the week, though locations have not been specified. Eligible passengers are required to pay for their seats. Meanwhile, commercial carriers are providing limited relief, with British Airways operating two flights from Oman to London Heathrow on Friday and Saturday for existing ticket holders, and Qatar Airways announcing "limited" relief flights from Thursday.
The evacuation operation, described by officials as the largest consular challenge since the COVID-19 pandemic, comes as the escalating Iran conflict has severely disrupted regional airspace. Flights remain grounded or restricted over Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE, and Israel. Major airlines including Emirates and Etihad have suspended operations, while Dubai's international airport—a major global hub—sustained damage in recent retaliatory strikes.
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, warning against all but essential travel to the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Stranded Britons have reported terrifying experiences, with one woman describing waking "to the sound of missiles" shaking her hotel in Qatar, while another spoke of running through Dubai airport leaving suitcases behind as emergency alerts sounded.
Criticism has emerged regarding the government's response, with some stranded individuals reporting poor communication. A woman in Qatar said she felt "completely left in the lurch," while another in Oman expressed frustration at not being notified after her application for the rescue flight was unsuccessful.