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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Isaaq Tomkins

‘It was surreal’: holidaymakers on first flight out of Abu Dhabi describe petrifying experience

ED Abu Dhabi Iran Laura Nikki Gulf UAE
Ed, 62, and Jane, 57, from Coventry, from Coventry, smiling as they arrive at Heathrow
Ed, 62, and Jane, 57, from Coventry just made it back from a holiday in Abu Dhabi. Photograph: Isaaq Tomkins

Holidaymakers on the first flights out of Abu Dhabi since Saturday have described their experiences up close as conflict erupted between Iran and its Gulf neighbours.

With thousands of flights cancelled across the Middle East, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded, the UK has begun forming evacuation plans for some of the estimated 300,000 Britons in the region.

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