Amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the first evacuation flight of the German federal government has departed from Oman's capital Muscat. On board are stranded Germans who had traveled to the region following a US attack on Iran. The flight is expected to arrive in Frankfurt around 07:22.
The conflict in the Middle East has intensified following US attacks on Iran, as sources report. Israel and the USA are said to have started a war against Iran over the weekend, prompting retaliatory strikes from Tehran. As a result, numerous travelers in the Gulf region have been stranded, including Germans who are now being evacuated.
The first official evacuation flight of the German federal government departed on Thursday from Muscat, the capital of Oman. It is a Lufthansa aircraft of the type Airbus A340-300 with flight number LH345. According to data from flight service provider Flightradar24, it is expected to arrive at Frankfurt Airport around 07:22. The usual flight time is seven to eight hours.
On board are individuals selected by the federal government. They had been transported over land to Muscat after the US attack. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized that particularly vulnerable groups should be prioritized, such as pregnant women, the sick, or children. The exact number of returnees is initially unclear; the aircraft offers 279 passenger seats in Lufthansa configuration, but the inbound crew and additional personnel occupy space.
It is not the first flight from the region to Germany since the war began. Since Tuesday, airlines from the United Arab Emirates have offered individual evacuation flights. In the Gulf region, tourists are also stranded, as reports indicate regarding vacationers on Tui cruise ships. The federal government is coordinating further measures to ensure the safety of its citizens.
