UK Kicks Off First Rescue Flight from Conflict-Hit Middle East

UK launches its first emergency repatriation flight from Oman as Middle East airspace disruption leaves thousands stranded amid rising tensions.

sarah

Mar 4, 2026 - 11:01

UK Kicks Off First Rescue Flight from Conflict-Hit Middle East

The UK government has booked a repatriation flight from Oman to help British citizens who wish to leave the Middle East as attacks continue across the region.

This flight, the first specifically arranged by the UK government, is scheduled to depart Muscat International Airport on Wednesday night at 23:00 local time (19:00 GMT) – and will prioritize the most vulnerable.

British citizens and their spouses or partners, and their children under 18, will all be eligible.

The Foreign Office said it would contact British citizens to secure seats on the flight and urged them not to arrive at the airport unless officially called.

Air travel in the Middle East has been severely disrupted since Saturday, when the US and Israel carried out attacks on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Read Also

RAF Scrambles After Suspected Drone Strike in Cyprus

Iran has since retaliated with attacks across the region, targeting US military bases as well as civilian and energy infrastructure in the territory of its Arab neighbors.

Thousands of flights have been canceled, and many British citizens who wish to leave are still stranded in the region.

Announcing the flights, the Foreign Office asked British citizens who previously registered their presence in the UAE but are now in Oman to fill out an "urgent" form if they want a seat on a charter flight.

Dependents who are not British citizens will need a valid travel document, such as a visa or permission to stay in the UK for more than six months, to be eligible.

The Foreign Office said it would "continue to work with airlines to find more ways for people to return home."

Many people have reported a lack of information about available routes to return home.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Tuesday that the "safety and security" of British citizens is a "top priority."

Software Services

Launch your own casino platform today — get started now

She then indicated that Oman would likely be the first destination from which government-arranged repatriation flights would depart. According to the Foreign Secretary, approximately 130,000 British citizens have signed up for the Register Your Presence program, which is available in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Although many British citizens are still stranded, some flights are operating from Dubai to the UK.

British Airways has also announced that it will operate a commercial flight from Muscat to London's Heathrow Airport, departing at 02:30 local time on Thursday (22:30 GMT on Wednesday).

The Foreign Office is currently advising against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.

Oman is located across the Gulf of Oman from southern Iran, but is approximately 1,200 miles (1,900 km) from Tehran, making it farther from the Iranian capital than most Middle Eastern countries.

However, its capital, Muscat, is only 280 miles from Dubai, the UAE's largest city, which currently attracts many British tourists and expatriates.

Thank you for reading this content.