‘It’s disconcerting to hear missiles being intercepted’

Thousands of Britons are stranded due to the conflict

- HOLLY BANCROFT SIMON CALDER HARRIETTE BOUCHER

Thousands of Britons have been left stranded in the Middle East after global airlines grounded hundreds of flights due to US and Israeli strikes against Iran.

Iran and Iraq’s airspaces were closed due to the escalating military action, which has seen blasts reported in multiple countries across the region, and Dubai International Airport, the biggest global aviation hub, suspended all flights yesterday.

Mike Boreham, who had been on holiday in Dubai with his wife, was due to get the 1.10pm British Airways flight back to Heathrow when the captain told the passengers the airspace had been closed.

Mr Boreham spoke to The Independent just after he had disembarked the flight, which stood on the tarmac for three hours. He said: "We were all ready to go, sat there for about 15 minutes, and then the captain came on and said that the airspace was shut. We were on the plane for three hours. We’ve actually just got off and been given instructions to go back into immigration. It’s carnage here.

“British Airways have told us: ‘Go to immigration, pick up your bags and then you'll get a text message’, which seems a bit wishy washy to be honest. I’m a bit concerned about that."

He said he would book a hotel once he got out of Dubai airport, but he has no idea how or when he will be able to leave the country. He said: “My biggest concern now is we just don’t know when we’re going to get out. It could be Monday, it could be a week Monday. Nobody knows what’s going on.