The first UK government-chartered flight evacuating British nationals from the Middle East has departed from Oman, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday. The flight, originally scheduled for Wednesday evening, took off after delays, with Starmer describing the operation as one of the largest of its kind.
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. The evacuation comes amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes on Iran and regional missile attacks.
Starmer stated, 'This is a huge undertaking. It’s one of the biggest operations of its kind, many times bigger than the evacuation from Afghanistan.' However, the government faces criticism from MPs and British nationals over the pace and scale of the effort.
One passenger, Mark, described the situation at Muscat airport as a 'complete shambles,' citing check-in issues and poor communication. In parliament, Conservative leader and Labour MP Emily Thornberry raised concerns about difficulties identifying consular staff.
British Airways will operate a fourth daily flight from Muscat to London Heathrow on Saturday. Over 140,000 Britons have registered with the Foreign Office in the region, with 138,000 in the Gulf. Vulnerable individuals are prioritised, and passengers are required to pay for seats on government flights.
