British Holidaymakers Trapped in Dubai During Iran Missile Strikes
A group of 11 British tourists found themselves in a terrifying situation when they were escorted off a plane on the runway in Dubai just as war broke out between Iran and regional forces. The party, which included individuals aged from 20 to nearly 80, had been ready to fly home on a British Airways flight when the conflict erupted, forcing them back to the terminal and into a prolonged lockdown-like scenario.
Nine Days of Fear and Uncertainty
The tourists, led by market researcher Zoe Ruffels, 53, from Camberley, Surrey, had been enjoying a holiday in Dubai with friends and family. Their nightmare began when their return flight was cancelled, and they were instructed to disembark the aircraft while it was on the tarmac. With no immediate way home, they had to book hotel accommodations, eventually staying at a Marriott near the airport for an extended period.
During their nine-day ordeal, the group faced constant missile alerts sent directly to their phones by UAE authorities. Zoe Ruffels explained that they had to rely on apps and social media for updates, as British Airways provided little assistance. "We would not book any new flights with BA," she stated. "The lesson we learned was to fly with the national carrier if you come to Dubai. It has been a pretty horrific experience."
Missile Attacks and Evacuations
The situation escalated when Iranian missile strikes became visible from their hotel rooftop pool. James Pryor, 57, an IT consultant from Curridge, Berkshire, described the frightening moments: "It was scary seeing the missiles in the sky, one of the children, Freya, was the first to spot them." The group had to evacuate to an underground car park, where hotel staff provided mattresses, water, and food.
Grainne Pryor compared the experience to the COVID-19 lockdowns, but with the added danger of missile attacks. "Staying indoors all the time was like the Covid lockdown all over again... but with missiles," she said. The UAE government's alert system kept them informed of ongoing attacks, but the lack of support from British authorities and airlines heightened their anxiety.
Costly and Arduous Escape Route
After multiple attempts to rebook flights with British Airways failed—each cancellation adding to their distress—the group decided on an alternative escape plan. They embarked on an epic eight-hour journey across the desert to Muscat, Oman, in two minibuses, costing £1,500. Following a nine-hour wait at the airport, they finally caught a 2:30 AM flight back to the UK.
Mark Ruffels, 57, a global trade director, reflected on the abrupt end to their holiday: "We were having a fabulous holiday until the day we were due to return. When we got to the airport and got on the plane, we were actually on the runway, thinking we were going home. But the plane captain said: 'We need to go back to the terminal'."
Criticism of British Airways and Embassy
The tourists expressed significant disappointment with the lack of support from British Airways and the British embassy during the crisis. James Pryor noted, "When we got to that terminal, there was no support from British Airways, and that set the tone for the week. There was no one there. That was one of the most disappointing things from our point of view."
Zoe Ruffels added, "We had no assistance from being here and none from the British embassy. We constantly had to get in touch with BA to find out what was going on." The group's ordeal incurred an additional £15,000 in expenses, on top of the original £560 per person for the British Airways flights.
Safe Return and Aftermath
Despite the harrowing experience, the group is now safely back in the UK. They expressed gratitude to the UAE government for keeping them safe during the missile attacks. However, Zoe Ruffels admitted, "It will take some time to process what has happened. We are all so glad to be back."
In response to the incident, British Airways issued a statement: “We remain unable to operate flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv. To help our customers, we have scheduled flights from Oman (Muscat) to London Heathrow for BA customers with an existing booking who are in Oman or the UAE. We are constantly reviewing the situation and will continue to do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues in the region and remain in regular contact with them.”
The party included Harrisen and Freya Ruffels, their friends Sophie Norbury, 24, and Kian Antoni, 22, as well as elderly family members Audrey Ruffels, 79, and Mick and Gillian Goodchild, aged 79 and 77. During the ordeal, Audrey Ruffels contacted local MP Jeremy Hunt, who assisted in liaising with British Airways.
