First UK evacuation flight to leave Oman
The first government-chartered flight to bring stranded Britons home from the Middle East is due to take off from Muscat on Wednesday evening, as fighting involving Iran enters its fifth day and airspace across the region remains heavily restricted.
The plane will depart Muscat International Airport at 7pm local time. Seats are being prioritised for the most vulnerable British nationals, along with their partners and children under 18 who have valid travel documents. Officials have urged people not to travel to the airport unless they are contacted directly.
More than 130,000 Britons have registered their presence in the region since the conflict escalated at the weekend, with many believed to be in the UAE, which is a major tourism and transit hub. Those who had registered in the UAE but have since travelled to Oman have been told to sign up again for a seat on the flight. Demand is expected to far exceed the capacity of the single aircraft.
The Foreign Office said it would “continue to work with airlines to find more routes for people to return home” and has advised against all but essential travel to the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
Airspace closures have caused what officials describe as the worst travel disruption since the pandemic. Major carriers across the Gulf have halted or scaled back services, leaving thousands stuck. Limited flights are still operating from Dubai, but airlines have warned passengers not to head to airports unless they have been contacted.
The department also updated its advice for Thailand, warning travellers: “Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East.”
The crisis has also spilled into maritime security. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that a vessel was hit by an “unknown projectile” seven nautical miles east of Fujairah in the UAE, causing damage to the ship’s steel plating. There was no fire or flooding and all crew were safe. A separate incident was reported earlier off the coast of Oman, where a ship’s captain heard a loud explosion and saw smoke in the water. In both cases, authorities said crews were unharmed.
Meanwhile, the government is stepping up military support in the region. The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon is being prepared to sail for the Mediterranean to strengthen protection around the British base at Akrotiri in Cyprus, after it was struck by a drone. The warship will carry two Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles designed to counter drones.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to face tough questions in the Commons as the situation unfolds, with pressure mounting over how quickly the government is moving to get people home.
