Israel and Iran launch new strikes as first UK flight bringing citizens home is delayed

One of the first passengers to arrive in Dublin from Dubai has said she has “never been so happy to be home”.

Gina Quinn was one of about 400 people who landed in the Irish capital on Wednesday.

The Emirates flight was the first in a number of days after the United States-Israeli attacks on Iran led to the closure of nearly all airspace in the Middle East.

A second flight directly to Dublin from Dubai is scheduled for Thursday, with a further 400 passengers on it.

Quinn was on a business trip to Delhi in India with a colleague and stopped in Dubai for a connecting flight back to Dublin.

She said it was supposed to be a “quick transit” but soon became “chaotic”.

“Getting information about when you might be able to fly home was nearly impossible. The airlines were inundated,” she said.

Her husband Kevin Murphy was there to collect her at the airport.

He said he was “delighted to have her home,” and “life can go on now”.

Also on the flight was Rushali Lakhani who was visiting Dubai on holiday but described how it soon became an “anxiety-inducing” trip.

She said she had several sleepless nights, but is now “thanking my lucky stars” to be home safe.