The first UK evacuation flight from the Middle East is due to leave tonight after the Government’s botched mercy mission descended into chaos.
Some 138,000 British nationals stuck in the war-torn region have registered for assistance but a chartered rescue plane due to leave the Omani capital, Muscat, failed to take off because the pilot was too tired.
It had been scheduled to depart at 7pm UK time on Wednesday, but could not leave due to the pilot's hours clocking up.
Farcical scenes amid a growing global crisis mean only 1,000 have managed to leave on commercial flights so far.
Tensions boiled over with some passengers on board said to suffer panic attacks as they sat helplessly on the tarmac.
The British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sought to quell rising anger and urged UK citizens to "move indoors and remain inside" as fears grow that those in the Arabian Peninsula country are sitting ducks.
In official advice the embassy warned: "You should stay indoors or go to the nearest safe building. Stay away from windows. An interior stairwell or a room with as few windows as possible may offer additional protection.”
The UAE's defence ministry said 181 of 196 ballistic missiles and 1,001 of 1,072 drones had been destroyed since "the start of the blatant Iranian aggression”.
Three people have been killed - from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh - and a further 94 people injured since the attacks began.
Most of the Middle East has been drawn into conflict after the US andIsraellaunched a missile blitz on Iran last Saturday in strikes that killed the rogue state’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, members of his family, and top-ranking security officials.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
