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First government evacuation flight departed Abu Dhabi Sunday, will arrive in Korea early Monday

Published: 08 Mar. 2026, 19:53

SEO JI-EUN
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Korean nationals prepare to board the first chartered evacuation flight from the United Arab Emirates to Incheon on March 8. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

The first government-chartered evacuation flight arranged after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran departed from Abu Dhabi on Sunday, carrying 206 passengers bound for Korea, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said.

The charter flight, operated by the Etihad Airways, left the Emirati capital at around 5:35 p.m. Korea time. It is scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport early Monday morning.
Those on board included 203 Korean nationals and three foreign spouses.

The final count of 206 is lower than the 285 initially registered for the flight. Thirty-eight individuals canceled for their spots in advance, while 53 failed to arrive at the airport without notice, according to the ministry. Another 12 showed up without prior registration and were added to the final passenger list.

Evacuation warnings were issued three times during immigration processing, while passengers were safely taken care of, a ministry official said.
Each passenger will be billed approximately 1.4 million won ($942.80) for the flight upon arrival.

The arrangement of the charter flight follows high-level diplomatic coordination, including a phone call between the foreign ministers of Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday.

The Korean government dispatched a joint rapid response team comprising officials from the Foreign Ministry and the National Police Agency that day. Working alongside the Korean Embassy in the UAE, the team managed the entire process, from surveying demand for the flight to overseeing the final departure.
The ministry estimates that around 1,500 people have left the UAE over the past several days, including those on Sunday's charter.

Officials added that Korean nationals are expected to continue departing via available commercial flights.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]