An Australian mother-of-two has recounted the harrowing experience of her family flying directly into the midst of missile attacks and bombing chaos in the Middle East. Camille Thioulouse, along with her French husband and two children, landed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, while en route to their home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their arrival coincided with intense Iranian bombardment involving 137 ballistic missiles and over 200 drones.
Chaos Upon Arrival
As their flight touched down, the ground shook with loud bangs and explosions. Ms Thioulouse described receiving urgent text messages while still in the air, warning of missile threats and instructing passengers to move away from windows and seek shelter. She reported seeing fighter jets departing the airspace and flying past the aircraft, with alerts sounding every 15 minutes.
Absolute Pandemonium
The situation escalated rapidly upon landing. Passengers were told to leave the airport immediately and retrieve their luggage if possible. Ms Thioulouse characterized the scene as "absolute pandemonium," with people rushing onto the streets to find taxis and Ubers amid complete chaos. The family eventually reached a hotel, where the first night felt calmer but was marked by widespread unease and tension, with everyone feeling on edge.
Ongoing Threats and Uncertainty
Despite reports that 90% of Iranian missiles and drones were intercepted, alerts and alarms continued throughout the night, warning of fresh attacks and urging people to take cover. Ms Thioulouse expressed gratitude for being in a location that prioritizes protecting its people during conflict but acknowledged uncertainty about when they might return home or what would happen next.
Information Challenges and Government Response
The family faces difficulties deciphering conflicting information about airport reopenings, flight resumptions, road closures, and border controls. Ms Thioulouse noted that the UAE government is covering hotel and meal costs for stranded individuals, providing some sense of security. However, they have been unable to register with Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade crisis portal, which has reportedly shut down new registrations for Australians in Iran, Israel, Qatar, and the UAE.
Broader Aviation Turmoil
Global aviation has been thrown into disarray since air traffic suspensions began on Saturday following US bombing of Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This triggered retaliatory missile attacks on Gulf capitals and cities, leading to the closure of seven key regional airports. While major airlines like Etihad Airways and Emirates have resumed selected flights, the situation remains volatile.
Family Background and Stranded Australians
Ms Thioulouse, who runs PR company The Société and has worked at fashion label Rebecca Vallance, had recently moved from Australia with her children in December to join her husband, architect Nicolas Thioulouse, in Riyadh. The family was returning from a holiday in the Maldives when caught in the conflict. They are among approximately 115,000 Australians stranded in the Middle East, with the Australian government acknowledging limited repatriation options and emphasizing that commercial flights remain the only viable option for large-scale evacuations.
