Grounded Commercial Flights Strand 400 Tourists on Yemeni Island Socotra.
Key Points
- 1Over 400 foreign tourists, including Russian and Western nationals, are stranded on Socotra due to flight suspensions.
- 2Commercial flights by an Emirati airline were grounded until Tuesday following intensified military operations and airspace closure on the mainland.
- 3Embassies are coordinating with Saudi and Yemeni governments to seek the evacuation of the stranded foreign tourists.
- 4The functional status of Aden airport offers a potential logistical route for relief efforts, despite ongoing regional instability.
Over 400 foreign tourists are currently stranded on the Yemeni island of Socotra. Their flights were grounded due to heavy fighting on the mainland. The clashes involve government troops backed by Saudi Arabia and secessionists linked to the United Arab Emirates.
Flight Suspensions and Stranded Passengers
Yahya bin Afrar, Socotra's deputy governor for culture and tourism, confirmed the situation. He stated that "more than 400 foreign tourists" are stranded after their flights were "suspended." A local official reported that 416 people of various nationalities are affected. This group includes "more than 60 Russians," according to the AFP news agency. Western diplomats also noted that British, French, and American nationals are among the stranded. Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Polish tourists were stuck as well.
Flights to Socotra by an Emirati airline were reportedly suspended until Tuesday. The Polish Ministry noted the airspace closure security risk. The region is highly unstable, and military operations have intensified.
- Over 400 foreign tourists are stranded on Socotra.
- Nationalities include Russian, British, French, American, Polish, and Chinese.
- An Emirati airline suspended commercial flights due to mainland fighting.
Aviation and Evacuation Efforts
Many tourists traveled to Socotra for New Year’s celebrations. They are now reaching out to their respective embassies for help. Relevant embassies have contacted the Saudi and Yemeni governments. They are seeking to arrange the evacuation of the stranded foreign tourists.
Disruptions to air travel have been widespread across Yemen in recent days. However, the airport in the southern port city of Aden has been Aden airport functional since Sunday. This offers a potential hub for relief and evacuation efforts. The internationally recognized government is based in Aden.
Regional Instability and Operational Outlook
The Socotra islands, located 380km (236 miles) south of the mainland, are controlled by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC has recently clashed with the Saudi-backed government in the provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra. This conflict marks a new phase in the Yemen civil war impact on the region.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) consistently warns of the risks to commercial aviation in conflict zones. Airspace closure is a standard response to active military operations. This event highlights the complex challenges for airlines operating near politically volatile areas.
Government forces recently retook the oil-rich southern governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra. The new governor of Hadramout, Salem al-Khanbashi, pledged to restore security. He stressed the need to restore service at Seiyun airport in northern Hadramout. This move aims to make ports and airports in the governorate operational soon. Industry stakeholders are monitoring these developments for any return to stability that would allow grounded commercial flights to resume. For more updates on global air travel and security, readers can check the latest aviation news.
This incident underscores the severe operational risks for commercial carriers flying into the Arabian Peninsula region, even to remote islands like Socotra.
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