Dawn and her children were about to board the flight home when they were told about the attack
A mum-of-three had to pay out over £2,000 for a different flight home from holiday after her family’s stop-over country was huit by an Israeli air strike. Dawn Paddock and her children were booked on a flight to the UK from Dubai where they had just had a dream holiday.
Their flight was due to land at Doha, Qatar, for a three-hour stop. But just before they were about to board last Tuesday they were informed Israel had launched a series of airstrikes against targets in Doha. The single mum from Wrexham, north Wales said she and her children were terrified.
And decided get a different flight to avoid Qatari airspace. But she had to borrow over £2,000 from her children to pay for it after spending over £4,000 on the holiday. Registered nurse Dawn said: “Just 20 minutes before we reached Dubai airport we were notified via text by the holiday company of the airstrikes Israel carried out in Doha.
“There was very little information at that time but I was told to still board the flight to Doha with my three children. So basically fly into a city that’s just been attacked but with no information provided, other than the airlines assurance that the flights were not cancelled or delayed.
“I just wanted somebody to explain to me whether there was any risk and if not, how were they able to be so certain about our safety. Its difficult to make an informed decision without the necessary information. I spoke to the holiday company who said we had to stick to our flights and Doha layover or pay for different flights as Qatar Airways was not cancelling the flights.
She said he was told it was ‘hoped’ there would be no further airstrikes, and we would be safe. “I phoned the British Embassy and was told the situation was still being reviewed so at that point there was no official status to say avoid Doha. I spoke to a member of staff for Qatar Airways who kept reiterating that no flights had been delayed or cancelled and that security in Doha airport were happy.
“But she couldn’t explain why they were so certain all was safe, or say that she would feel safe to fly there with her own children. As a single mother of three children, I was unhappy with the lack of information, reassurance and explanation we were offered.
“My children had seen the news on their devices and were terrified, begging not to fly there. But I did not have the money to buy different flights home and was told that the airline and insurance would not cover any costs for changing flights as our original ones were not cancelled.
“If it had just been me then making a decision would have been easier, but a decision that potentially affected my children and could put them at risk is different. Especially with so little information or explanation being offered to us at that point. We never went on the flight to Doha in the end.
“My children were really scared and begging not to go there. Nobody would speak with me or them or answer our questions or offer reassurance. My eldest son said he would rather use money from his savings to try and book direct flights home as he was so worried.
“In the end it was decided that they kids would combine their savings to pay for the flights and I would pay them back once I have it. It cost almost as much as our holiday and we had the last four seats on a direct Emirates flight home instead. The Emirates flight also went a longer route to avoid Qatar air space which was unusual if Qatar Airways were so certain all was safe.
“I’ve now got to find money to pay the children back but don’t regret the decision as they all felt safer and happier flying home. And had our return flights been the following day, once more information was available then we likely would have kept the existing flights.
“But the lack of information, explanation, reassurance at the time, was awful. The mixed messages from different governments online added to this. And we never saw any other British passengers at the airport for the original flight to Doha, so had nobody else to discuss it with.
“Just to add, we stopped at Doha airport on the way to Dubai and it was pretty impressive so we had been looking forward to stopping on the way back too.”
Israel conducted airstrikes in the Leqtaifiya district of Qatar’s capital Doha. The airstrike targeted the leadership of Hamas. It killed and injured Hamas members, Qatari security forces and multiple civilians.
The attack was Israel’s first known attack in Qatar. Qatar Airways has been approached for comment.