UK arranges more evacuation flights as war in Iran leaves Britons stranded

The UK government has announced additional evacuation flights to help British nationals leave the Middle East as the war involving Iran enters its fifth day.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Wednesday that a second repatriation flight is being organised to assist British citizens stranded in the region.

The move comes after the government revealed that an initial charter flight was scheduled to depart from Oman on Wednesday evening.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer said British Airways would operate the additional flight from Oman as part of the evacuation effort.

“British Airways is now laying on an extra flight from Oman and the Foreign Secretary will have further discussions today,” the prime minister said.

He also urged members of Parliament to encourage any affected constituents to register their presence with the government.

“And can I urge all those in the House who have constituents who are caught in this to make sure that they do register their presence so we can do whatever we can to help them get home safely,” he added.

Officials have not yet confirmed when the second flight will depart.

According to the Foreign Office, the first evacuation flight is scheduled to leave the Omani capital Muscat at 7 pm.

Seats on the aircraft will be available for British nationals, as well as their partners and children under the age of 18 who hold valid travel documents.

Priority for the flight will be given to the most vulnerable travellers. Authorities said they will contact eligible British nationals directly.

The Foreign Office has also asked people not to travel to Muscat International Airport unless they have been contacted by officials.

Dependants who are not British nationals must have a valid visa or permission to enter or remain in the UK for more than three months.

Officials said some British nationals who initially registered their presence in the United Arab Emirates are now in Oman. Those individuals have been asked to register again for a place on the evacuation flight.

The government said around 130,000 British citizens have registered their presence across the Middle East.

The Foreign Office added that it is continuing to work with airlines to explore additional routes that could help bring more people home.

The conflict involving Iran has caused widespread disruption to travel across the region, with airspace closures leaving large numbers of people unable to leave.

As a result, hundreds of thousands of British citizens have been left stranded across several Middle Eastern countries.

Officials are urging travellers to stay informed about the situation by checking updates from airlines or tour operators.

They have also advised people to review their travel insurance policies before making any arrangements to travel.

The government continues to monitor the situation as the conflict unfolds, and further evacuation options remain under discussion.

For now, the charter flights from Oman represent the first organised effort by the UK to assist citizens trying to leave the region during the ongoing crisis.