The first flight chartered by the UK government to evacuate British nationals stranded in the Middle East landed at London's Stansted airport early on Friday, after departing Oman nearly a day late due to technical issues. The flight left Muscat late on Thursday night local time, almost 24 hours behind schedule, and touched down shortly before 1am.
The evacuation comes amid escalating regional tensions following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered retaliatory attacks and grounded or restricted flights across several Middle Eastern countries. More than 140,000 British nationals in the Gulf registered with the UK government for assistance, with at least 4,000 already returning via commercial flights from the UAE.
Passengers reported chaotic scenes and uncertainty during the evacuation process. Amelia Reid and Samuel Sharp, who had been on holiday in Dubai, spent a night sheltering in a hotel basement car park after missile alerts. They drove to Oman and took a coach to Muscat airport hoping to board the government flight. Ms Reid, who uses a wheelchair, was eventually reunited with her family and her dog in the UK. Another passenger drove 300 miles from Dubai to Oman with his wife and young child, only to wait 36 hours at Muscat airport.
Some travellers faced long delays due to technical problems during check-in. One passenger described the situation as a “total shambles” after the plane failed to depart as scheduled on Wednesday night. However, Fazal Chowdhury, who has lived in Dubai for three years, praised the government's efforts, saying the team worked hard and were sincere. The UK ambassador to Oman reportedly came to explain the delays.
The government said additional charter flights will follow, although officials emphasised that commercial routes remain the quickest way for most people to return home. Etihad Airways announced it would resume a limited commercial flight schedule until 19 March, including services to Heathrow, Manchester and Dublin. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insisted the special relationship with the US is “in operation right now” amid criticism from President Donald Trump over the UK's response to the conflict.
