Relief and Tales of Terror as Stranded Scots Return Home
Scots stranded in Dubai amid attacks linked to Iran have recounted their fears for safety before finally returning home.
Over 300 passengers arrived in Scotland on an Emirates flight that landed at Edinburgh Airport on Wednesday evening.
Some passengers described witnessing missiles flying overhead and hearing explosions, while one couple shared how they checked out of their hotel just hours before it was struck.
Thousands of travelers remain stranded in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered retaliatory attacks across the region.
'Run, run, leave your suitcases'
Victoria Cameron from Larkhall was traveling home from New Zealand via Dubai when flights in the Middle East were grounded.
On Saturday, as she waited to enter her hotel, the first Iranian missiles hit the city.
"The first one looked like a firework, then I realised it was something far more serious."
She described the moment the third missile passed overhead.
"The third one came above us and we started screaming," she said.
Hotel staff urgently instructed guests to evacuate without their belongings.
"Then the staff said 'run, run, leave your suitcases'. They rushed us all to the side of the hotel.
"Our phones were going off, saying 'emergency, emergency'. We were crying, we were shaking."
Her scheduled flight home was cancelled just 15 minutes before departure.
With the airport evacuated and airline staff unavailable, she had to leave her luggage behind.
"I've been wearing these clothes since Saturday. I just want to get home and have a cup of tea," she said.
Missile Strike on Fairmont Hotel
Andy Crow and Jean Weir from Glasgow had been staying at the five-star Fairmont Hotel but checked out only a few hours before it was hit by a missile.
Upon arriving at the airport, they found their flight delayed and then cancelled.
"It was absolutely atrocious," said Andy.
"There was no organisation, there was nothing. We tried to get hold of staff - there was no staff at all."
After nine hours, they secured accommodation at another hotel, but their ordeal continued.
"We had gone to bed and were sleeping when this siren went off in the bedroom.
"It was the phone and we were told in a message we were under attack. That was terrifying."
"We looked out of the window and saw the missiles crossing over the top. Then we heard about four blasts quite near the hotel and the vibration.
"I was texting somebody, then another two explosions occurred."
Emotional Reunions at Edinburgh Airport
The arrivals hall at Edinburgh Airport witnessed many emotional reunions as friends and family awaited the return of their loved ones.
Ashleigh McLean traveled from the Borders with her nine-year-old son Hayden to welcome home her father Kevin, who had been stranded in Dubai while returning from Australia.
Kevin recounted hearing explosions but considered himself fortunate as the blasts were distant from his hotel.
"I was speaking to a couple on the flight that was stuck in a basement of their hotel so they had to sleep in there."
Wearing his Celtic top, Kevin expressed joy at being reunited with his family and looked forward to resuming normal life.
"I can go and watch football now - does anybody know what the score is?" he asked.
