First RAF evacuation flight from Tel Aviv lands in the UK

The first evacuation flight from Israel has landed in the UK after Israeli airspace was closed due to the conflict between Israel and Iran. The Royal Air Force (RAF) flight brought back 63 British nationals and their family members, with a stop in Cyprus before landing at Birmingham Airport. Passenger Max Radford, who accompanied his elderly parents, described the journey as 'long and intense'. He criticized the evacuation plan, urging for more efforts to bring British citizens back home.

Downing Street mentioned that around 1,000 people requested seats on evacuation flights, out of the 4,000 registered in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Foreign Office stated that further evacuation flights would be organized based on demand and security conditions. British nationals still in Israel were advised to register with the UK government.

Mr. Radford also expressed dissatisfaction with the choice of landing in Birmingham, suggesting it was for cost-saving reasons. Despite the challenges, he highlighted a moment of unity during the flight when passengers sang national anthems. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, with both countries agreeing to the proposal.

According to the source: BBC.