Limerick woman on first Irish flight from Dubai since Middle East crisis touches down

A WOMAN from Limerick was among the passengers who touched down in Dublin on the first direct flight from Dubai since the recent Middle East crisis, as emotional reunions and scenes of relief unfolded at the airport late on Thursday night.

Elaine Gleeson from Limerick surprised a family member, turning up with a balloon and flowers to welcome home her sister Norita Geary.

“Everyone clapped when the plane landed, and cheered, it was just magic,” Ms Geary said.

“I didn’t expect to see her (Elaine) because I told her I was getting a lift home,” she added, hugging her sister.

READ MORE: Warning for Limerick motorists as technology replaces old windscreen penalty fines

There was relief and tearful reunions at Dublin airport as the first flight from Dubai touched down since the recent crisis in the Middle East.

Many had been in the UAE city since last Saturday amid the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel which caused widespread airspace closures in the Middle East, sparking major disruption to flights.

There are to be further direct flights from the Middle East landing in Dublin on Thursday, and a government charter plane later this week.

Some were too overcome to speak as they arrived late on Thursday night, while others described alarms in the middle of the night and seeing missile trails in Dubai where the Fairmont The Palm Hotel and the airport were hit.

Anna Callaghan from Donegal was overcome to be surprised by her mother having travelled from the north west to Dublin Airport to see her.

“My mum’s come all the way from Donegal, that’s why I’m a little overwhelmed, I live in Dublin so I wasn’t expecting to see her,” she said, as the pair embraced again, her mother Patricia responding: “I’m just glad she’s on the ground now”.

Ms Callaghan described a stressful and scary situation.

“We were seeing and hearing bangs and explosions, last night in particular it was jet after jet after jet going overhead, and then we heard the US Consulate was hit and that really scared everyone,” she said.

“This is my fourth flight that I rebooked and I didn’t think I was going to get out.”

“Dublin is the most beautiful city in the world.”

Gina Quinn from Dublin described hearing a national alarm in the middle of the night which woke them all up.

“It was very frightening, you just didn’t know and getting information on when you might be able to fly home was nigh impossible, the airlines were great but they were inundated,” she said.

“I think everyone on the flight coming in tonight is absolutely delighted, just hope that everybody else gets home quickly because it’s a very uncertain situation.

“It’s fantastic to be home.”

Rob McClean from Greystones, who had been transiting through from India, said it was a massive relief to be home.

“I was in the airport on Saturday night when the explosion happened so we were evacuated from there which was pretty tough,” he said.

“It’s been nerve wracking for my family.”

Jimmy O’Connor from Longford said he had been on his way home from Australia visiting his daughter in Sydney when he got caught up in the situation in Dubai.

“We didn’t think it would be such a long journey home, but we’re back now safe and sound,” he said.

There were also a number of passengers from across Europe who took the flight to Dublin in desperation to flee the Middle East.

Alex Anderson, a French-American who lives in Frankfurt, described “huge relief” and said it was very emotional to land in Dublin.

“It was really difficult, I was a transfer passenger, I was supposed to be going on to Frankfurt on February 28, when I was coming in from Malaysia we actually saw the missile trails, but we didn’t know what it was then, just thought it was planes,” he said.

“It was really shocking when we landed and found out what had happened.

“I moved as quickly as I could out of the terminal building, and an hour later it got hit. Then there was the long wait of days, hearing thumps, anti missile stuff, that was nerve wracking, they definitely had a lot of drones coming over.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a full blown warzone like you would see in Gaza, but it’s getting close.

“It’s a huge relief to land in Ireland, and a bit emotional. Tomorrow morning I’ll fly back home to my wife and kids in Frankfurt.”