Missile fire hinders Middle East rescue flights

Emirati airlines resumed some flights to global cities from the war-hit Gulf yesterday, but a Lufthansa jet that was headed to the region diverted over safety fears and an Air France repatriation flight was forced to turn back due to missile fire.

The outbreak of the US-Israel war against Iran has led to flight cancellations across the Middle East, leaving airlines and governments scrambling to support thousands of stranded passengers. Shares in carriers from New Zealand to Japan have slid meanwhile, as the conflict drives up fuel prices.

Passengers have paid huge sums to get out of the Middle East, with last-minute dashes to the airport, overland trips to less impacted hubs and fighter jets at times escorting passenger planes out. Some described it as “absolute chaos”.

With most airspace in the region still closed over missile and drone concerns, some people with deep pockets have turned to private jets while charter flights and limited commercial services struggle to evacuate tens of thousands of travellers.

A Lufthansa flight to Saudi capital Riyadh diverted to Cairo yesterday over safety concerns after a similar move by an Air France late on Thursday.

“(It) reflects the instability in the region and the complexity of repatriation operations,” French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said.

Britain’s first repatriation flight from Oman landed at London’s Stansted Airport early yesterday after delays. Similar repatriation flights arrived or were due to arrive back in countries from Poland to Portugal.