130 other German citizens left Beirut on a flight organized by the federal government. Seats remained free on the Airbus.
Against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing attacks on the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, the Bundeswehr has flown another 130 German nationals to Germany via Beirut airport. The Germans who were particularly at risk were picked up by an Airbus A330 from the multinational air transport unit MMU (Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Unit), the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defense announced in Berlin. The plane landed in Frankfurt am Main in the evening. The “Spiegel” first reported on the flight.
Of the 215 seats made available on the aircraft, 130 had been taken up. So far, a total of 241 people have been flown out of Lebanon using Bundeswehr aircraft, according to the ministry’s statement. Depending on needs and developments in the situation, further flights would be prepared. The Germans were flown out as part of a so-called diplomatic pickup. Unlike evacuation flights, such flights are not accompanied by armed Bundeswehr soldiers.
Plane also brings five tons of relief supplies to Beirut
According to the ministries, the machine was also used to transport five tons of relief supplies from the German Red Cross to Beirut, which were financed from humanitarian aid funds from the Foreign Office. These were primarily medical goods such as infusion devices and bandages for emergency care for the civilian population in Lebanon.
In view of the continued extremely volatile situation in the Near and Middle East, the Federal Government’s crisis team met again at the Foreign Office, it said. The federal government is monitoring the situation very closely and reserves the right to take further measures, particularly to support German citizens at risk.
Federal government relies on multinational aircraft squadrons
For the flight, Germany used an Airbus from a joint squadron of multifunctional aircraft that Germany operates with other European nations and which is stationed at Cologne-Bonn Airport, among others. The partnership also includes the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
Source: Stern
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