Muscat: More than 100 Omanis who were trapped in Turkey due to the recent coup were evacuated from Turkey on Monday by the first aircraft of the Royal Air Force of Oman, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
The trapped Omanis arrived at Muscat International Airport on Monday evening and their families were at the airport waiting for them.
More flights will follow as about 500 Omanis said that they desire to return in the coming days.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged citizens to contact and coordinate with Oman’s embassy in Ankara and the Consulate in Istanbul and to abide by Turkish laws and regulations. The ministry affirmed that the Embassy and the Consulate will eliminate the difficulties that may face Omanis there and will help them return home.
Ahmad Al Gasani, one of the Omanis who was in Turkey, told Gulf News that he is so happy to get home after the hard time he faced when the coup took place in Turkey.
“I want to thank God as a bullet missed me when the clashes occurred in Istanbul in Taksim Square. It was a very tough night,” Al Gasani said.
Al Gasani thanked the Omani government for the quick response to evacuate Omanis stuck in Turkey.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier said that all Omanis in Turkey were safe.
Turkey is one of the favourite tourist destinations, with more than 40,000 Omanis visiting it every year, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
