The Republic of Cyprus is continuing its large-scale repatriation effort on Saturday, as a fourth government-chartered flight is scheduled to bring home 170 citizens from Dubai.
The Cyprus Airways flight is expected to touch down at Larnaca’s Glafcos Clerides International Airport at 8:05 pm. The group includes two infants. This operation follows a week of intense regional volatility that has left hundreds of Cypriots stranded in the United Arab Emirates.
To date, the government’s emergency response has facilitated the return of 805 citizens. The majority of these individuals were evacuated from the UAE following the outbreak of the US-led war against Iran.
Chaos at Dubai International Airport
The repatriation efforts are taking place against a backdrop of significant disruption at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Operations at the world’s busiest international hub were temporarily suspended on Saturday afternoon following an aerial interception.
Reports indicate that debris from an intercepted drone or missile fell near airport terminals, causing a loud explosion and visible smoke. While Dubai authorities confirmed the incident was “successfully contained” with no reported injuries, thousands of passengers remain stranded due to cascading flight cancellations and the temporary suspension of services by major carriers like Emirates.
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