Cork family on 'holiday of our dreams' stranded in Dubai as flights grounded

A Cork family who travelled to Dubai for the “holiday of our dreams” are among thousands of Irish citizens stranded as airstrikes in the Middle East continue to ground flights out of the city’s airport.

While the US and Israel continue to launch attacks against Iran, an estimated 22,000 Irish citizens across the Middle East have been advised to shelter in place as hostilities escalate.

Speaking to The Echo, Mayfield native Krystle O’Connor, who is currently in Dubai with her husband Martin and daughter Leah, said: “The holiday of our dreams turned into the worst nightmare of my whole life”.

“We arrived here on Friday, and everything was good,” said Ms O’Connor.

“We heard some banging, but we took no notice of it, then on Saturday we heard more and realised there was actually drones and missiles being shot down over us.

“An emergency siren went out across the city, and we were told to take shelter — so we went down to the basement and we’ve been staying there on mattresses. We’re just so scared to leave, it’s traumatising — we’re due to come home on Thursday, but all flights have been grounded.”

Flights cancelled 

A spokesperson for Dublin Airport said all direct flights to and from airports in the Middle East have been cancelled by airlines, stating that given that there is “no certainty regarding when airspace and airports will reopen, further disruption to flight schedules over the coming days is possible”.

Ms O’Connor said there are hundreds of guests taking shelter in the basement at Dukes The Palm Hotel in Dubai, with the venue being “right in the danger zone”.

Siren

“There’s at least 150 people on our floor, and there are three basement floors,” said Ms O’Connor.

“When the siren went off, everyone was running. My 16-year-old tripped, and people were trampling her, but we got down and we haven’t left since.

“The following day, we came back up to the room. We weren’t even up there 20 minutes, and there were more explosions. We looked out the window and the hotel next to us was on fire. I can’t explain how scared we feel.

“Abu Dhabi Airport is opening back up slowly, so we’re hoping we can find a route out of there somehow.

“We’re right in the danger zone — I will never ever come back again.”

Dubai resident Fionn Dwyer, who is originally from Carrigaline, told 96FM’s Opinion Line that the city is “probably one of the safest places to be in the Middle East”.

“I genuinely have 100% confidence in the systems here,” said Mr Dwyer.

“When you hear a bang, that is the sound of you being kept safe.

“The biggest threat is actually the debris that falls down. Stay inside, don’t be going down to the beach, you just have to follow the instructions.”