The first charter flight carrying British nationals from the Middle East has departed from Oman, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday. The plane, originally scheduled to leave at 7pm on Wednesday, took off minutes before Starmer addressed a Downing Street press conference. He described the ongoing evacuation operation as one of the biggest of its kind, larger than the Afghanistan evacuation.
More than 2,000 people arrived in the UK on Wednesday aboard eight flights from the United Arab Emirates, with ten more flights expected on Thursday. Starmer emphasized the scale of the operation, stating, 'It’s not going to happen overnight, but we will not stop until our people are safe.' However, the government faces criticism from MPs and British nationals over the pace and scale of the effort.
A British passenger named Mark, onboard the Oman flight, described delays as a 'complete shambles,' citing check-in issues and poor communication. In parliament, Conservative leader pressed for timelines, while Labour MP Emily Thornberry relayed constituents' difficulties identifying consular staff at Muscat airport. British Airways announced an additional daily flight from Muscat to London Heathrow on Saturday.
Over 140,000 Britons have registered with the Foreign Office in the region, including 138,000 in the Gulf. Minister Hamish Falconer called it a 'consular challenge on a scale not seen since Covid,' noting no instant solutions. Passengers on government flights are required to pay for seats, with priority given to the most vulnerable. The initial delay was attributed to problems boarding passengers, according to Home Office minister Alex Norris.
