Ninety-one Greek citizens returned to Greece late Thursday evening (5 March 2026) aboard a Hellenic Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft from Abu Dhabi, as part of ongoing repatriation efforts following recent U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran. The plane landed at 7:27 p.m. at the 112th Combat Wing base in Eleusis.
Official Welcome and Emotional Homecoming
They were greeted at the airbase by Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA), General Dimitris Houpis. Television cameras captured emotional moments as passengers—including children—disembarked from the aircraft. Many expressed visible relief and gratitude.
“We took off around 1 p.m.,” said one woman among the returning passengers. Another described the operation as “well-coordinated” between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defence, in close cooperation with the Greek Embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
Gratitude Toward Diplomatic Efforts
A relative of one of the repatriated citizens praised the Greek Ambassador in Dubai: “I want to express my deepest thanks and appreciation to the Ambassador in Dubai. From the moment we contacted the embassy, I was truly impressed—within hours, he personally called us at home. His humanity and swift response left me deeply grateful. A huge thank you to him.”
Outside the airbase, families and loved ones waited anxiously for their returning relatives—many of whom had been evacuated from so-called “red zones” across the Middle East.
Athletes Among the Repatriated
Among those onboard were parents, relatives, and chaperones of the under-18 basketball team of Aris Thessaloniki, who had been stranded in Abu Dhabi after flights from the UAE capital were abruptly cancelled amid regional tensions. The club’s official Instagram account shared photos of the group inside the C-130 shortly before landing in Greece, documenting their ordeal and safe return.
Diplomatic Coordination Confirmed
Earlier the same day, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis held a telephone conversation with UAE Foreign Minister H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers exchanged views on regional developments in the broader Middle East and coordinated on ensuring the safe and timely repatriation of Greek nationals. Gerapetritis reaffirmed Greece’s solidarity with the UAE and its Gulf partners.