In a recent evacuation operation, RAF A400M Atlas aircraft and crews actively engaged in transporting British nationals and their dependants from Tel Aviv, Israel to Larnaca, Cyprus. Over three days, these flights were pivotal to the evacuation effort coordinated by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), with RAF flights evacuating over 220 eligible people.
The missions commenced from Cyprus and RAF Brize Norton, landing at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, before arriving at Larnaca, Cyprus, where passengers were welcomed by FCDO consular teams, ahead of their journey back to the UK.
The Atlas A400M was refitted to include a seating pack, enabling it to carry just over 100 passengers. During this period, one aircrew member remarked,
"This is the day job, but it is one of the most rewarding elements of the job when you become involved in any humanitarian activity."
Passengers included a diverse range of individuals, from pensioners; 2 of which had just reached their 91st year, to young families, with the youngest passenger being a mere 3 months old.
One evacuee, Jeff, recounted his experience:
“My family and I were caught in a situation that quickly escalated from a joyous celebration at a wedding, to navigating a war zone. My wife, elderly parents (86 and 91) and I were absolutely terrified running to bomb shelters in the middle of the night and the uncertainty of how we would get home.”
The FCDO was in regular communication with British nationals, providing updates and support throughout the crisis response. The MOD Operational Liaison and Reconnaissance Team worked tirelessly to assess the situation on the ground and coordinate the logistics of the evacuation flights, supported by the FCDO’s Rapid Deployment Team.
The ability to utilise RAF Aircraft such as A400M, Voyager and C-17 underpins the speed in which the humanitarian mission was executed. "The Air Mobility Force is extremely agile; flexibility is key so that personnel and aircraft can change roles rapidly and deliver operations such as these evacuation flights at very short notice," said Squadron Leader Katie Hermolle, Commander of the Air Mobility Detachment.
Many evacuees offered immense gratitude for the RAF's swift response. Jeff added, "I cannot express how relieved I am to be back home after such a harrowing experience. The support from the RAF has been invaluable. It was a terrifying ordeal but knowing that help was on the way made all the difference. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this operation.”
The success of these evacuations demonstrated the effective coordination and responsiveness of both the RAF and FCDO, as well as the unwavering commitment of military personnel to help British nationals around the world.
