Brits returning home branded the operation to get them out of the Middle East “a shambles” with others recalling how plane windows were shuddering as missiles flew overhead
Brits arriving home from the Middle East on the UK’s first chartered flight to rescue those stranded described the organisation as a “bit of a shambles” after the original departure time was delayed by 24 hours.
British citizens arrived at Stansted Airport overnight after being evacuated from the Middle East as Iran continues to fire missiles and drones across the Middle East. The region was thrown into chaos last Saturday after US and Israeli jets bombed the capital Tehran.
Iran responded after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a strike and fired volleys of missiles at neighbouring nations in the Middle East that are aligned with Washington DC or have US military bases. Brits arriving home shared their frustration at the situation with others revealing the terrifying moment missiles flew past the plane taking them home.
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One arrival told Good Morning Britain: “We were right under the missiles and stuff… I grabbed my children and decided to come back. We heard the windows shudder, it was quite a scary time.”
“It was a bit of a shambles on the night when we thought we were going to get a flight and we ended up being trapped on busses and needing to go back,” another passenger said. “But that’s all over now, I’m sure everyone else is glad to be back.”
Passengers also told GMB that the plane arriving from Oman’s capital Muscat was half to three quarters full. They reported issues in Muscat as local officials who kept data said passenger info did not match what they had.
Those on board the first flight out from Muscat were said to be among the most vulnerable people who needed to be evacuated. Flights had been scheduled earlier in the week, but they were delayed amid ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the operation to get Brits out was among the largest of its kind. He added: “I want to be very clear, this is a huge undertaking. It’s one of the biggest operations of its kind, many times bigger than the evacuation from Afghanistan. It’s not going to happen overnight, but we will not stop until our people are safe.”
The government has continued to face pressure as more than 100,000 Brits registered they needed to be evacuated from the Middle East.
