Norwegian Family Spends Over £17,000 on Flights in Desperate Bid to Escape Dubai Missile Attacks
A desperate Norwegian family has spent more than £17,000 on flights in a frantic attempt to escape Dubai after Iranian missile strikes turned their holiday into a nightmare. Tomas Hjelle, a car mechanic from Koppang in Norway, and his wife Elizabeth were on holiday with their two young children when the attacks occurred.
Government Assurances and Frantic Escape Efforts
The family claimed that the Norwegian government initially told them it was safe to stay in Dubai despite the escalating conflict. Tomas, 30, was left ringing around airlines in a desperate effort to flee what he described as a war zone. He was part of a group of nine people, including five children, trying to secure safe passage out of the region.
Tomas said: "We had checked with our government before we left to see if Dubai was safe. There had been wars in the Middle East before, but it had never impacted on Dubai. We thought it would be safe to have a holiday there. But we were left in the middle of a nightmare with the children."
Flight Cancellations and Mounting Costs
The family managed to book seats with airlines to London and Prague, only for those flights to be cancelled or changed at the last minute. Elizabeth, also 30, added: "We have been trying to get out. But our government was saying that it was still safe to stay in Dubai. We are trying to get home now on our 4th flight. We spent €20,000 booking flights home and have been unable to get on the previous flights."
In total, Tomas spent around £25,000 on the holiday and the subsequent missed flights for his family party, which included his five-year-old son Collin and four-month-old daughter Cornelia. He expressed hope of recovering some costs through travel insurance but noted that outcome remains uncertain.
Extended Family Also Trapped
Tomas's sister Vibeke, 37, her husband Amund Moe Myrbannen, and their three children—Amalie, 16, Sverre, 17, and 10-year-old Sander—were also trapped in Dubai. Amund had been attempting to book flights since Sunday before they finally managed to leave yesterday. Their escape route involved an eight-hour bus journey over land to Oman, followed by a planned flight out of the capital Muscat.
Norwegian Government Travel Advisory
A spokesperson for the Norwegian government confirmed that they had advised against travel to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other nearby nations from late February this year. Individuals currently in the region were advised to follow local authority guidelines and carefully consider their security situation.
The spokesperson emphasized the critical importance of having comprehensive travel insurance, noting that the government may have limited ability to assist in areas with active travel warnings. This advisory highlights the challenging position faced by tourists like the Hjelle family during international crises.
