Tears of relief as second Aussie mercy flight arrives at Sydney Airport from Israel

Emotions ran high at the airport arrivals hall after the second of two Aussie repatriation flights from Israel landed back on home soil. See the photos.

There have been emotional scenes at Sydney Airport after the second of two repatriation flights that enabled Australians and their families to flee Israel landed back on home soil.

A Qantas A380 carrying 300 people landed in Sydney late on Wednesday night, with Australians escaping the conflict on-board.

Met by their excited loved ones in the arrivals hall, tears of joy and relief overflowed as passengers embraced their relatives.

Some appeared visibly shaken and overwhelmed to be home while others beamed as they hugged their family members.

Passengers on the repatriation flight land in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Monique Harmer

Tears flowed as loved ones were reunited. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Monique Harmer

Passengers were overjoyed to see their families. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Monique Harmer

Passengers arrive back in Sydney on a repatriation flight via London and Singapore from Israel. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Monique Harmer

Heartwarming scenes at Sydney Airport after the repatriation flight landed. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Monique Harmer

A family is reunited at Sydney Airport after the Qantas flight arrives. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Monique Harmer

AUSSIES URGED TO TAKE FIRST FLIGHT OFFERED

It came after Australians still in Israel were warned to take the first flight offered and not cancel after the devastating hospital blast in Gaza.

Hundreds of Aussies have already been flown out by government-assisted repatriation flights, with 222 people landing on Tuesday on a Qatar flight from Dubai, including 194 that had flown from Tel Aviv to Dubai on government charters and ADF flights.

However, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has urged Australians wanting to leave Israel to not hesitate.

She said there were still about 1200 Australians in Israel still in contact with the government, but that there had been evacuation flights “coming back with empty seats on them” because people who indicated they wanted to leave “later decide not to”.

Palestinian children injured after an air strike on a Gaza hospital. Picture: AFP

“We are urging people, if you are in Israel at the moment and you want to leave, leave immediately,” she told Channel 7.

“Take the first flight that is offered to you. Don’t think about other options, or that you might wait and see. The situation in the Middle East is deteriorating rapidly. We are urging people, if you want to leave, leave.

“If you and your family want to leave Israel, take the first flight that is offered to you and get back to Australia as quick as you can.”

Mya Nussbaum, 10, Dina Thaler, Adam Nussbaum, 13, Ayelet Nussbaum and Shai Thaler wait for their family members to arrive from Israel at Sydney International Airport. Picture: Adam Yip

Ms O’Neil said the government was focusing its efforts on the 46 Australians stuck in Gaza.

“We’re doing everything we can. We hope that we’ll be able to report back something positive,” she said.

The situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating as the Humanitarian aid not able to get into Palestine, and water, food and electricity running low because of Israel’s blockade.

Palestinian health ministry said at least 500 people, including children, were killed at the Ahli Arab hospital in central Gaza.

Hundreds of people were believed to be seeking shelter at the hospital at the time of the explosion, which Hamas has called a “horrific massacre” and a “crime of genocide”.

AUSSIES ARRIVE BACK HOME

Tears, hugs and welcome home balloons filled the arrivals of Sydney airport as the first repatriation flight from Israel landed in Australia on Tuesday evening.

Sydney residents Alan and Judy Landis were one of the dozen or so families and friends waiting for their family to arrive.

Mr Landis was equipped with a ‘Welcome to Sydney’ balloon and a pink unicorn soft toy for his 14-month-old granddaughter, said he was “ecstatic” at the arrival of his younger son, his wife and grandchild.

“They will be safe now. It’s just a shocking situation for Israel and the whole region,” he said.

People travelling on-board the Qatar mercy flight helping Australians flee Israel landed in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Madeleine Bower

The first passenger to exit the terminal, Dana Gilden, quickly walked past the media scrum and into the embrace of her parents.

“I didn’t have any time to process it all, I was just eyeing my parents,” she said.

“I can’t even think straight. My head is a literal blur. I feel like I’m in a literal dream.”

She counts both Sydney and Israel as her home but said she needed a “calm environment” to decide on whether she wanted to return to Tel Aviv.

“I’m back for my family. They really needed me back.”

People embrace after Qatar’s mercy flight landed in Sydney. Picture: Madeleine Bower

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed that Qatar was flying the Australians free of charge.

For Qatar to fly via Dubai is extremely unusual as until recently the two gulf regions have not had direct services between them.

Qantas has a joint services agreement with Emirates on flights between Dubai and Australia, which allows them to share profits, while Qatar has a codeshare agreement with Virgin Australia.

The Middle Eastern airline has been in the spotlight after the Albanese government rejected their bid for more airspace just months ago.

The decision, which the Coalition labelled a “sweetheart deal” between the Commonwealth and Qantas, has been under scrutiny in a Senate inquiry.

The airline has previously assisted in repatriation missions during the fall of Kabul and the Covid-19 pandemic.

At least 300 Australians are on their way home from Israel on a flight organised by Qatar.

The news comes as Emirates has confirmed it is offering an extra repatriation flight from Israel as up to 1600 Australians remain in the conflict zone, including families and children in Gaza.

“Emirates stands ready to help impacted Australians return home, through our regularly scheduled services between Dubai and Australia, as well as the deployment of additional humanitarian flights as needed,” a spokesperson said.

“We have made aircraft and crew available and put them on standby to activate over the past days, pending confirmation of passenger numbers and other details from the Australian government.

“The situation remains dynamic, and we continue to work closely with our partners on efforts to evacuate and repatriate Australians.”

A Qantas mercy flight left last week with Aussie passengers. Picture: Supplied

The extra flight EK2616 is scheduled to depart Dubai on Thursday, arriving in Sydney the next day at 6am.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced 850 previously registered Australians and their families had left Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

She said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was assisting more than 1600 registered Australians in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. But not all of those are looking to leave.

– with NCA Newswire