'Glad to be home' - Yorkshire folk in Middle East tell of hearing explosions
Relieved Yorkshire tourists have returned home with tales of explosions and sirens as bombing took place in the region in recent days.
Satwinder Samra, from Sheffield, was awaiting the arrival of his wife, Emily England, who had been working in Dubai.
Mr Samra said: “She was supposed to fly back on Saturday, but then the flights got cancelled, and then we’d been waiting, we’d been very anxious and very worried.
“But we’re really pleased that the flight has just landed. And we have nothing but praise for the airline, the governments, of all the countries that have sort of made sure that … loved ones get back home safe and sound.
“She would tell us on the phone that she’d heard sort of explosions and things happening, but generally, she felt really safe.
“And what this is, what this makes you realise is that conflict can start at any time in any part of the world.
“And so we’re blessed that we are fortunate enough that she’s been able to return home safely.”
David and Rachel Brookfield from Tickhill, near Doncaster, were staying in Dubai following a holiday in New Zealand.
Rachel, 59, said: “We were watching the airstrikes on the news and social media and it looked worse than what we saw.
“It was scary and we were getting missile alerts on our phones.”
David added: “We were on the 62nd floor so when the alerts went off, we had to dive down into the lobby.
“That was scary and you could hear explosions and the windows would rattle. I just feel so lucky that we got on this plane.
“We were taxiing on the runway and we were the only plane there. We were on the runway for about 10 minutes, and I thought we going to be turned back.
“I’m just glad to be home.”
Roy Woodhead, 66, from Sheffield, was on a stopover from Singapore.
He said: “You could hear gunshots and missiles landing but we couldn’t see anything. I have friends who were staying in a different location and they could see the drones and missiles. It must have been very scary for them.
“I was only supposed to be staying for a few days and had my initial flight cancelled at the last minute while in the airport.
“Then someone else asked if I was flying to Manchester and told me of this flight.
“I feel lucky to get on it. I am going home to have a pint of John Smith’s!”