Two flights carrying stranded Australians from the United Arab Emirates have arrived in Sydney, with a third expected to land in Melbourne soon. These arrivals come as a significant number of Australians remain unable to depart the region due to ongoing disruptions following retaliatory attacks in the Middle East. Reports indicate that 'about 24,000' Australians are still stranded in the UAE.
The flights mark the first repatriation efforts for those caught in the Middle East since disruptions to air travel. One flight, identified as Emirates EK414, departed Dubai after terminals reopened for limited services and landed in Sydney late Thursday evening. Another flight heading to Sydney was also scheduled to depart. The initial Melbourne-bound flight is anticipated to touch down on Friday morning.
Shadow foreign minister Ted O’Brien has voiced criticism, suggesting many Australians felt abandoned and that the government had not utilized available channels to assist. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has advised citizens looking to leave to prioritize commercial flights, stating no further repatriation flights were confirmed at the time of her remarks.
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In related news, Liberal MP Julian Leeser has publicly urged the government to extend asylum offers to the Iranian women's football team currently competing in the Women's Asian Cup on the Gold Coast.
Elsewhere, heavy rainfall has prompted a cyclone watch for swathes of North Queensland. In Sydney, authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing incident in the city's inner west.
The broader context for the flight disruptions stems from Iran's retaliatory actions across the Gulf region, which have impacted energy supplies and travel following US-Israel assaults. The reopening of some services at Dubai International Airport enabled the departure of these repatriation flights.
