NEW YORK — Several Americans returned home from the Middle East on Thursday, arriving at JFK Airport in New York. They spoke to reporters about their experiences trying to leave the region with limited assistance from the State Department.
“I’ve never heard an air raid siren before in my life. That was a new experience,” one traveler said. “I think day two or day three we heard F-15s going over the house. We knew we weren’t in immediate danger, but it definitely was very gnarly to kind of know what was going on all around us.”
Another traveler expressed concerns over the cost of flights. “You know, I paid for first-class tickets on United, and I paid $6,000 in the back of the bus, it’s a necessity. But what if people don’t have that?” they said.
State Department officials said more than 9,000 American citizens have returned from the region in recent days. The department has been running charter flights from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, and is helping people book commercial flights where available. Officials are also waiving repayment for travel costs.
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