The inaugural UK government-chartered flight to repatriate British nationals from Muscat, Oman, amid escalating Middle East tensions failed to depart Wednesday night due to the pilot exceeding his allowable flying hours.
Delays Spark Passenger Distress
Passengers, who paid for seats on the Foreign Office-organized aircraft, faced prolonged waits. Check-in procedures dragged on for about four hours due to technical glitches, followed by a 90-minute hold on the plane. With no consular staff present airside, frustration mounted, leading some to bang on windows and suffer panic attacks.
One anonymous passenger described the ordeal as a ‘total shambles,’ stating: ‘We had no way of contacting consular staff to find out what was wrong. Eventually we were taken back to the terminal with no guidance or consular staff present for about an hour. Due to slow check-in and delays, the pilot had clocked his hours so needed to rest.’
The group was then moved to a hotel, with the flight rescheduled for later Thursday after the pilot rests.
Contrasts with European Successes
While the UK effort faltered, Austria and Spain successfully evacuated citizens the same night. Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger personally greeted arrivals at Vienna International Airport from a charter flight out of Muscat. Spanish nationals boarded a military repatriation flight from Oman amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Broader Evacuation Efforts
Since the Iran-US-Israel conflict erupted last Saturday, over 138,000 British nationals have registered with the government for assistance leaving the region. Airports, initially shuttered after Iranian missile and drone strikes, now operate with limited flights.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced two additional government-chartered flights, including one from Oman on Thursday. British Airways has scheduled repatriation services from Muscat to London Heathrow on Friday and Saturday, with further flights possible if demand persists. All current BA flights are fully booked.
BA stated: ‘We are constantly reviewing the situation and will continue to do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues in the region and remain in regular contact with them.’
Qatar Airways plans limited relief flights Thursday to London Heathrow, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen from Muscat, plus Riyadh to Frankfurt. Passengers must await official notifications before heading to airports.
Stranded Briton Voices Frustration
Poppy Cleary, 27, stranded in Muscat after her Singapore flight diverted there Saturday, paid £350 to register but received no confirmation. The British Embassy informed her the initial flight prioritized those fleeing unsafe nations like the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, excluding diversion cases like hers.
Cleary expressed disappointment: ‘Clearly I didn’t get on the flight – it’s a bit frustrating that they couldn’t even let me know that I hadn’t made the cut.’
