The first charter flight carrying British nationals back to the UK from the Middle East has finally taken off from Oman, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday. The flight, originally scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday, was delayed due to issues with passenger boarding, according to Home Office minister Alex Norris.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Starmer described the evacuation as one of the biggest operations of its kind, many times larger than the Afghanistan evacuation. He said: "It's not going to happen overnight, but we will not stop until our people are safe." The airlift comes amid continued US and Israeli strikes on Iran and other regional states.
More than 2,000 people arrived in the UK on Wednesday on eight flights from the United Arab Emirates, with a further ten flights expected on Thursday. However, the government faces criticism from MPs and British nationals over the pace and scale of the effort. A passenger named Mark described the situation at Muscat airport as a "complete shambles", citing poor communication and check-in issues.
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer told parliament that over 140,000 Britons have registered their presence in the region, calling it a "consular challenge on a scale not seen since Covid". He emphasised that commercial flights remain the most rapid route home, while additional government-organised flights from Muscat will be announced when available.
British Airways has announced a fourth daily flight from Muscat to London Heathrow on Saturday, a route it does not usually serve. The government is prioritising the most vulnerable passengers, with those on rescue flights required to pay for their seats.
