4 hours ago - Travel

Charter flights open to Pennsylvanians in Middle East

Chrissy Suttles

The Flightradar24 website displays on a mobile phone showing empty skies due to closed Iranian airspace, and the national flag of Iran appears on a computer screen, in Krakow, Poland, on March 3, 2026. Civil aviation comes to a halt across the region as Iran extends its airspace closure. — The Iran war has snarled flights in the Middle East. Photo: Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) told Pennsylvanians in the Middle East that the State Department is arranging charter flights to help American citizens leave as the Iran war intensifies and snarls global air travel.

Zoom in: The State Department said Tuesday it's facilitating flights from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan to bring home Americans who can't access commercial flights.

Pennsylvanians are advised to call 1-202-501-4444 to request immediate assistance and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for security alerts.

What they're saying: "Commercial options remain available in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Egypt, and the Department is actively helping American citizens book those tickets," McCormick said on X.

Context: The Trump administration previously told thousands of stranded Americans in 14 countries to book commercial flights despite airports suspending operations after many were hit by strikes.

Those unable to leave should shelter in place, per the State Department.

The bottom line: Americans are also encouraged to sign up for updates from their nearest U.S. embassy and follow the State Department on social media for updates.

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Charter flights open to Pennsylvanians in Middle East

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