Birmingham Pensioner Among First to Return from Dubai After Missile Attacks
A Birmingham pensioner who was on the first flight to land at Birmingham Airport from Dubai following recent missile strikes has described his experience as "damn scary," adding that Dubai felt like a "war zone." Neil Maybury, who had flown to visit his son abroad, recounted hearing explosions "every few minutes" and witnessing "clouds of debris" during the attacks.
First Flight Back After Suspension
Today, March 4, marked the first opportunity for passengers to return home after Dubai suspended all flights when the city and its airport were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. Maybury, speaking to BirminghamLive, emphasized the difficulty in securing a spot on the initial return flight, calling it "hard work" to ensure he was among the first to arrive back in Birmingham.
He said, "All I can tell you, it was damn scary. It was very scary indeed. If you can imagine what Birmingham is like with noise during Diwali, only this time it's for real." Maybury described being in the botanical gardens when a sudden, enormous sound perforated his eardrums, prompting a swift exit. "I thought 'my god, we've got to get out of here fast'. We got out, but it felt like there was an explosion every few minutes."
Other Passengers Share Their Stories
Other Birmingham residents on the flight also shared their experiences. Atif Iqbal, 35, who was in Dubai for business, admitted to feeling "anxious" at times due to sirens and explosions. However, he noted that the Emirati government covered hotel costs and that most people maintained a positive mindset. "I was a bit more anxious on Saturday because of the sirens and explosions in the sky. But we were in hotels which had basements if we needed to go there," he said.
Scott Cooper from Wolverhampton, who works in the steel industry and was on a business trip, estimated it was his 40th visit to Dubai. Despite being woken by two explosions, he praised the air defence systems and expressed disappointment at having to return home. "I'm a bit disappointed I've come home to be honest. I've heard the Emirati government will cover our hotel costs but you have to claim for it. You don't need to be afraid to go to Dubai and I would definitely go back again," Cooper stated.
Impact and Future Plans
Maybury, whose son and family still live in Dubai, expressed concern over international tensions and vowed to be more cautious in the future. "It was not nice. My son and family live there, so as soon as it calms down, hopefully I can return there. I shall be watching very carefully over international tensions and being more careful the next time I get on a flight," he added, recalling one incident where debris fell onto roads, reinforcing the war zone atmosphere.
The arrival at Birmingham Airport was met with emotional reunions, including a handmade card reading "Welcome home Daddy" for one of the passengers, highlighting the relief felt by families as flights resumed amid ongoing regional conflicts.
