The first chartered evacuation flight of American citizens who were stuck in the Middle East returned to the US Thursday afternoon, flying from Abu Dhabi and landing at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC.
Hundreds of Americans were on board the flight, a State Department spokesperson said.
The scene at the airport was full of emotional reunions between family members and friends.
Anxious families gathered at the international arrivals terminal waiting for their loved ones. Many families shared that while they’ve been able to be in contact with their traveling loved ones, they were told to keep the evacuation flight a secret and were not given any information such as a flight number to track.
Passengers on the chartered flight included embassy workers and their families and tourists who were stranded in Abu Dhabi.
“Just glad to be back,” said Bruce Imel of Pennsylvania who had been on his way to Bangkok for vacation with his daughter when the US and Israel attacked Iran, trapping them in a five-day layover in Abu Dhabi.
He said they saw and heard multiple explosions.
“We were near the airport when the airport got hit and also near the consulate when the consulate got hit,” Imel said.
He said they struggled in the beginning to get any information from the US State Department. “It was tough at first, but then they started getting it figured out,” he said.
The Americans who were stuck overseas were at least able to communicate with their families back in the US.
“Texting and calling and all of us were doing that,” Imel’s wife Helen said.
Imel added, “Yeah, family was doing a great job of keeping our spirits up.”
Americans return to US after being stuck in Middle East
Americans return to US after being stuck in Middle East
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