The first wave of Dutch evacuees is now back in the Netherlands, following a late-night departure from Muscat, Oman.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KLM has repatriated 83 travellers stuck in West Asia as the Israeli and US offensive on Iran and its retaliation continue to escalate.
According to KLM, flight KL9896 lifted off from Muscat Airport at 2:57 AM local time and touched down at Schiphol at 8:15 this morning.
Thousands still waiting
In collaboration with the Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that there are around 1,000 Dutch nationals stranded across West Asia.
The flight is the first relief for travellers after the airspace was closed and all commercial flights were grounded in the area.
READ MORE | Netherlands rules out repatriation for Dutch nationals stranded in Middle East
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen urged stranded travellers not to wander around “haphazardly” hoping to stumble across a return flight, reports AD.
The priority, he said, is getting people back to the Netherlands safely. Anyone currently stuck in the region is advised to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the nearest Dutch embassy.
Support on the ground
The Ministry has also deployed a SCOT team to assist Dutch nationals who remain in the area.
SCOT, or the Rapid Deployment Consular Support Team, consists of specialised Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff who can be quickly sent anywhere a large number of Dutch citizens need help.
They work alongside embassy and consulate staff, assisting with tasks like emergency passport replacements and coordinating safe departures.
What happens next?
For the passengers and KLM staff on board, the landing at Schiphol signals the end of an intense journey — to say the least.
In a statement, KLM said it understands “how impactful and uncertain the situation is for everyone in the conflict area.”
The airline confirmed it remains committed to bringing other stranded travellers safely back to the Netherlands, working alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other carriers.
Stuck in a warzone? Call +31 247 247 247 immediately.
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