Flight Cancellations and Diversions
Airlines operating routes to the Middle East have cancelled or diverted flights following deadly strikes launched by the US and Israel against Iran.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air are among the carriers reducing their schedules to Middle Eastern destinations due to safety concerns.
Sites in Iran, including the capital Tehran, were targeted in attacks on Saturday. Iran has been accused of retaliating with strikes on Israel and several other countries hosting US facilities in the region, resulting in civilian casualties.
Travel Warnings and Safety Advisories
The UK Foreign Office has advised British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to shelter in place immediately following reports of explosions.
US President Donald Trump cited the failure to reach an agreement limiting Iran's nuclear program and the goal of regime change as reasons for the military action.
Iranian airspace has been closed, and flight tracking data indicates international air traffic is avoiding the region.
Airline Service Disruptions
British Airways has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday and to Amman, Jordan, on Saturday.
On Friday, over 200 passengers on the 20:00 flight to Doha returned to Heathrow after the flight was ordered to turn back approximately one-third into the journey.
Sarah Short, scheduled to return from Dubai to Heathrow on Saturday, described her experience:
"We got on the plane and were literally about to taxi when the pilot said: 'We have some bad news - we're not going anywhere'. We then sat on the plane on the tarmac for over three hours."
"There's no flights, everything's suspended. BA said there's nothing they can do," she added. "It's all so volatile, you just don't know what's going to happen next."
Virgin Atlantic cancelled a Heathrow to Dubai flight and warned that flights to India, Saudi Arabia, and the Maldives may experience delays due to rerouting.
Wizz Air suspended all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman up to and including next Saturday.
Qatar Airways confirmed the temporary suspension of flights to and from Doha due to the closure of Qatari airspace, while Emirates announced a temporary halt of services to and from Dubai.
Heathrow Airport, the UK's busiest, urged travelers to check with their airlines for the latest updates.
Regional Security Incidents
The Foreign Office instructed British nationals in four Gulf states to seek shelter after explosions and air raid sirens were reported in Doha, Qatar's capital.
John Henry, 71, from Northampton, who was on holiday with his family, recounted his experience at a shopping center during an air raid alert:
"We heard a bit of a thud and felt a tremor, and we saw a number of people moving quickly out of the shopping centre," he said.
Qatar's defence ministry stated it intercepted Iranian missiles.
"You could see the vapour trails where they had hit," Henry added. "We've heard four or five additional thuds where something must have happened."
The UAE also reported intercepting Iranian missiles, while footage appears to show a US facility in Bahrain being struck.
Government Response and Advisories
British nationals in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Oman have been advised by the Foreign Office to remain vigilant and take shelter if instructed.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chaired a Cobra meeting on the strikes earlier on Saturday.
A government spokesperson stated:
"Our immediate priority is the safety of UK nationals in the region and we will provide them with consular assistance."
Additional reporting by Marc Ashdown
