The first charter flight evacuating British nationals from the Middle East has taken off from Oman, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday. The plane, originally scheduled to depart at 7pm on Wednesday, was delayed due to issues with passenger boarding, according to Home Office minister Alex Norris.
Starmer described the operation as one of the largest of its kind, surpassing the Afghanistan evacuation in scale. Over 2,000 people arrived in the UK on Wednesday via eight flights from the United Arab Emirates, with ten more flights expected on Thursday. The government has warned that the process will not be quick, but pledged to continue until all British nationals are safe.
However, the evacuation has faced criticism from MPs and stranded Britons. A passenger named Mark described the situation at Muscat airport as a 'complete shambles', citing poor communication and check-in issues. Conservative leader and Labour MP Emily Thornberry have raised concerns about the pace and identification of consular staff.
More than 140,000 Britons have registered their presence in the region with the Foreign Office. Minister Hamish Falconer called it a 'consular challenge on a scale not seen since Covid', noting that commercial flights remain the fastest route home. British Airways has added an extra daily flight from Muscat to London Heathrow, departing on Saturday at 10:30pm.
