Repatriation Flights Begin as Thousands of Swiss Nationals Remain Stranded in Middle East
A special SWISS flight from Oman has landed in Zurich, bringing home some of the thousands of Swiss citizens stranded by escalating conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the airline continues to cancel regular flights to the region, and the foreign ministry reiterates its stance that travelers hold personal responsibility.

Key Takeaways
- A special SWISS flight (LX7043) from Muscat, Oman, landed in Zurich on Thursday afternoon carrying 211 passengers.
- SWISS has extended flight cancellations to Dubai until March 10 and Tel Aviv until March 22.
- The Swiss government currently has no plans to deploy state-run repatriation aircraft.
- The special Oman flight carried a mechanic and spare parts in the cargo hold to ensure self-sufficiency.
- Travelers who cancel their own flights are generally not entitled to refunds if the airline has not cancelled the flight first.
By The Numbers
They Said
"The administration only intervenes in a subsidiary capacity, and any person staying abroad assumes their own responsibility."
"The crew was thus prepared for many things that a mission like this can entail."