Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
2mo ago

South Korea’s First UAE Charter Lands in Incheon With 203 Citizens

The government has urged departures from seven regional countries under Level 3 alerts.

South Korean nationals wait in line to board a special commercial flight arranged by Qatar for their return home on March 9, 2026, amid flight disruptions due to the widening conflict in the Middle East, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This undated photo, provided by South Korea's foreign ministry, shows South Koreans waiting in the international airport in Abu Dhabi to board a chartered plane that will carry South Koreans stranded in the United Arab Emirates amid the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
South Korean nationals, who had been stranded in the Middle East due to the U.S.-Iran conflict, embrace their family after arriving at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, aboard a chartered flight on March 9, 2026. (Yonhap)
This EPA photo shows passengers boarding a bus for the 12-hour journey to Riyadh airport in Doha, Qatar, on March 8, 2026. After more than a week of airspace disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, nearly all flights from Hamad International Airport remain cancelled, with over 8,000 passengers currently reported stranded in Qatar. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Overview

  • An Etihad Airways charter from Abu Dhabi arrived early Monday, carrying 203 South Koreans and three foreign spouses to Incheon.
  • Passengers paid about 1.4 million won per adult, with boarding priority for the critically ill, people with severe disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly and infants.
  • Roughly 1,500 South Koreans have left the UAE since some services restarted, while an estimated 1,400 short‑term travelers remain awaiting additional flights.
  • The foreign ministry dispatched a joint rapid response team to the UAE and arranged further options, including a special Qatar flight for around 300 people slated to land early Tuesday.
  • Foreign Minister Cho Hyun pledged to return all citizens who wish to come home and sought assistance from regional counterparts, including Bahrain’s foreign minister.