A Qatar Airways flight from Manchester Airport to Doha is diverting back to the UK – after Iran launched attacks against a US base in Qatar as the crisis in the Middle East escalates
Passengers on a flight from Manchester Airport to Doha are heading back to the UK with the plane diverted following Iran’s attack on a US base in Qatar.
Flight QTR36R had got as far as the Turkish coast when it was told to return following the latest Middle Eastern clashes. Currently the Qatar Airways flight is heading back over the Balkans in the Eastern Europe. In a statement, a Qatar Airways said: “Temporary Suspension of Qatar Airways Flights. As a result of the closure of air traffic movement in the State of Qatar, we can confirm the temporary suspension of Qatar Airways flights.
“We are working closely with government stakeholders and the relevant authorities to support any passengers that have been impacted, and will resume operations when the airspace re-opens. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority.”
Iran announced on state television that it had attacked forces stationed at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, in retaliation to America’s strikes on its nuclear programme.
Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said the UK was monitoring the “fast-changing situation” closely and that “the UK Government utterly condemns any escalation”.
He told the House of Commons: “Force protection now is at its highest state across all deployed units in the Middle East. The additional RAF Typhoon jets announced by the Prime Minister have now arrived in the region to reinforce our posture, deter threats and reassure our partners, and I want to be clear, we will not rule out sending further capabilities if they are required.”
The Foreign Office had advised British nationals in Qatar to “shelter in place” after a US security alert. Qatar, which had earlier shut its air space temporarily, said it successfully intercepted the missiles and no casualties were reported.
A base in Iraq housing US troops was also targeted, but Iran did not claim responsibility for that attack. Foreign Secretary David Lammy had urged Iran to “take the off ramp” and return to the negotiating table with the US.
His plea came after an air raid by American B-2 stealth bombers and a salvo of submarine-launched missiles hit Iran’s nuclear facilities on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the UK has started evacuating Britons from Israel, with the first group of 63 flown back via Cyprus and due to return to the UK on Monday.