First flight bringing rescued Britons home from war-torn Sudan lands in UK
A plane carrying UK nationals plucked to safety from war-torn Sudan has touched down in Britain.
Flight ZT4820, a Smartwings Boeing 737 carrying rescued British nationals from Larnaca in Cyprus to the UK, landed at Stansted Airport in Essex at 2.25pm.
Hundreds of Britons have been airlifted from war-ravaged Sudan, with more evacuation flights taking off today.
UK nationals were flown by RAF planes from an airstrip near the capital Khartoum to Larnaca - though there were reports the runway at the Wadi Seidna airstrip was beginning to break up because of the number of aircraft taking off and landing.
By lunchtime, 301 Brits had been evacuated on four mercy flights involving Atlas A400(M) planes, with another four due to take off by evening.
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Air crews and British forces face a race against time to pull out British citizens before a 72-hour ceasefire ends.
Flights began landing in Cyprus on Tuesday evening and continued through the night, with more planned throughout the day.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said between 200 to 300 people had been brought out so far.
The latest flights carrying British nationals from Sudan arrive at Stansted Airport (Sky News)She said: "We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armed forces."
British citizens, dual nationals and their dependents are being forced to make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip where the evacuation flights are taking off from.
But Mrs Braverman defended the UK's response to the crisis, saying the Government had to cope with a "larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries".
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will chair another Cobra meeting on Sudan this afternoon, No10 said.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said the operation in Khartoum is "running smoothly", while there is currently "no issue with capacity".
Britons rescued from Sudan board a bus after disembarking from an RAF plane at Larnaca airport in Cyprus (AFP via Getty Images)British forces were expected to take over control of running Wadi Saeedna from German troops.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British soldiers have already been supporting the operation there.
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The UK military could be ready to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlift, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the Red Sea city of Port Sudan would be an “alternative location” if the airfield became unsuitable.
HMS Lancaster is already in the region (Crown Copyright)The Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster has been ordered to sail to the port, while the Bay-class landing platform dock RFA ship Cardigan Bay “will be making its way at some stage”, he told MPs.
“While (Port Sudan) is 500 miles away from Khartoum across the desert, it is a more benign environment and it is an access into the Red Sea and commercial airports and places like Jeddah, and gives us space and time in order to process any people there,” he said.
“We already have people there, we’ve put some people in from the Royal Marines to work alongside to establish the safety of the area and any options.
“We are in a good position there, should we wish to increase support.”
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