Stranded in Dubai After Flight Cancellation
A man and his wife remain uncertain about when they will be able to return home from Dubai after their flight was cancelled due to escalating hostilities in the Middle East.
Sean Howitt, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, had traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with his partner to escape the weather and was scheduled to return home on Tuesday.
Their flight was among dozens cancelled following Iran's attacks on Gulf states, which were part of its retaliation after US and Israeli strikes that began early on Saturday.
Flights to and from airports in Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha, and other key international hubs in the region have been suspended.
The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. British nationals already in the region have been advised to seek shelter.
'Explosions in the sky'
Speaking to BBC Hereford and Worcester, Howitt described the situation as stressful and unsettling.
"It's a stressful time, it's all a bit unnerving. We've just had information that our flight has been cancelled, we were due to come home tomorrow.
So we have no idea when we're going to be able to get back and how. We just hope the whole situation sorts itself out as quickly as possible."
When asked when he first became aware of the situation, Howitt said:
"Saturday, we were around the pool and we heard some bangs in the sky.
Wasn't really sure what that was and then later in the day there were more explosions in the sky and we could see smoke.
We later learnt this was missiles being intercepted."
He added that one explosion was so close it caused the windows in his hotel to move.
"We're just keeping an eye out for advice from the airlines and the UK Government on what to do next," he explained.
"It's not the holiday we'd hoped for. We hope to be home as soon as possible."
'UAE has been amazing'
Ally Collishaw, from Lucton in Herefordshire, who now lives in Dubai near Al Minhad Air Base, praised the authorities for their efforts to ensure safety.
She said:
"All the explosions were just going off all over Dubai.
Yesterday morning, they said they dealt with 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 541 Iranian drones, this is from the ministry of defence.
It has been a lot. There has been an awful lot of action, an awful lot of bombs going off and they've managed to destroy most of them.
The UAE has been amazing, absolutely amazing. I think the general thought is that although this has all been going on we have felt totally protected."
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