Czech Republic deploys military planes to evacuate citizens from Middle East

The Czech government is deploying military aircraft to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East amid rising regional tensions. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced after a State Security Council meeting that one military Airbus will fly to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt and another to Amman in Jordan. The flights will prioritize Czech nationals, with any remaining seats offered to other countries.

Czech citizens currently in Oman are being evacuated by the commercial airline Smartwings. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka said the military Airbus, initially bound for Egypt, could return to Oman if additional assistance is needed, Radio Prague International and Slovak SITA agency report.

“We have a plane ready to depart to Egypt within two hours,” Macinka said, noting that it will also pick up 79 people traveling by bus from Israel. Later in the day, a second Airbus is scheduled to fly to Jordan.

Macinka added that around four Czech citizens from Jordan are expected to arrive on a Slovak government flight today. “Then the plane returning from Egypt can be sent to Oman,” he said, adding that further deployments will depend on demand.

From Prague, two flights departed in the morning for Muscat and Salalah in Oman, according to Prague Airport spokeswoman Denisa Hejtmánková.

“Smartwings is prepared to operate up to eight flights per day as needed,” Babiš said.

The Prime Minister stressed that citizens can choose whether to remain in Dubai, currently considered the safest location in the region, or attempt alternative routes. “We don’t know whether Dubai airport will remain open,” he noted.

Two Czech Casa aircraft will also take part in the evacuation, with one already stationed in Egypt. If the flights are not fully occupied, remaining seats will be offered to Slovak citizens or nationals of other countries.

By Vafa Guliyeva