‘Windows rattled and you could hear explosions’: Sheffield travellers’ describe terrifying escape from Dubai
Travellers from Sheffield have described tense and frightening moments in Dubai after flights were cancelled and missile alerts sounded across the city - with one telling how she saw what appeared to be an Iranian drone shot down in flames from her hotel balcony.
Satwinder Samra, from Sheffield, had been desperately awaiting the return of his wife, Emily England, who had been working in Dubai when flights were suddenly disrupted.
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."
During the uncertainty, Mrs England told her family she could hear explosions from where she was staying, though she tried to reassure them.
"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."
Roy Woodhead, 66, also from Sheffield, was on a stopover from Singapore when the situation escalated. While he did not see the explosions directly, the sounds were unmistakable.
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."
His own travel plans were thrown into confusion when his flight was cancelled at the last minute while he was already at the airport.
"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 !"
For others, the danger felt far more visible.
Emily Bexon, 31, from Nantwich, Cheshire, had stepped outside onto her hotel balcony while her mother slept inside when she witnessed a flash in the night sky.
She said: "I was just on the balcony, and I was stupidly outside, and you could just see... orange, and then a flash and then you hear it.
"I just ran in to her."
Her mother, Judy, had been asleep when the explosion happened.
Judy Bexon said: "She was very upset, wanted to tell me, and I was fast asleep."
The pair had already been forced back to their hotel after their flight was cancelled on Saturday as they were about to board the plane home, leaving them watching events unfold from their room.
Mrs Bexon added: "Looking at some of the news, I think we're very lucky to be back actually.
"I hope everybody else gets home as well."
David and Rachel Brookfield, from Tickhill near Doncaster, were also caught up in the disruption while staying in Dubai following a holiday in New Zealand. From high above the city, they experienced both the alerts and the aftermath.
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"
Her husband David described the moment the warnings sounded while they were on the 62nd floor of their hotel.
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."
Even as they finally boarded a flight home, uncertainty lingered.
"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."