Americans Evacuated from Middle East Criticize U.S. Evacuation Plan

Travelers arriving at JFK Airport say the U.S. had "zero plan" to get citizens out of war zones after Iran attacks.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Americans returning from the Middle East to New York's JFK Airport on Thursday said the U.S. government's evacuation plan after attacks by Iran was grossly insufficient. Travelers described chaos, canceled flights, and a lack of support from U.S. officials as they tried to flee the war zone.

Why it matters

The evacuation issues highlight the challenges the U.S. government faces in protecting American citizens abroad during times of conflict. The criticism raises questions about the State Department's preparedness and ability to respond effectively to emerging crises.

The details

Travelers arriving at JFK said they faced constant "shelter in place" alerts, unnerving explosions, and a lack of information from U.S. officials. They described a "makeshift bomb shelter" in an underground parking garage and being told to simply "get a commercial flight" out of the war zone. Some had their flights canceled repeatedly, while others saw flights to Europe and other destinations still operating.

  • The first direct flight out of the United Arab Emirates landed at JFK Airport on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • The U.S. military attack on Iran that sparked the evacuation crisis occurred on Saturday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Jenna Arnold

A New York resident who was stranded in the Middle East and criticized the lack of a U.S. evacuation plan.

Evan Rhault

A diplomacy student who said the U.S. was not doing enough to help evacuate Americans, leaving them "stuck fending for ourselves."

Aayush Patel

A resident of Sayreville, New Jersey who was unsure whether to try to fly to Europe or India to escape the war zone.

Oliver Sims

An American who said his flight from the Middle East took off but then returned to Qatar, leaving him stranded.

Ryan Rivera Cabrera

A Connecticut resident whose son was attending a student diplomacy conference in Dubai when the attacks began.

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What they’re saying

“There was zero plan for evacuation for anyone. The phone numbers are a joke.”

— Jenna Arnold, New York resident (CBS News)

“It feels like there is not anyone doing enough on our side here in the United States. They're not sending charter flights or anything. We're stuck fending for ourselves.”

— Evan Rhault, Diplomacy student (CBS News)

“Every day was chaos. It's canceled every day. I see flights going to Europe and elsewhere. So we're like, should we fly to Europe? should we fly, like, to India?”

— Aayush Patel, Resident of Sayreville, New Jersey (CBS News)

“I'm stuck here. It's very frightening. It's a very scary time and, you know, it's very uncertain, what are the next steps.”

— Oliver Sims (CBS News)

“All other countries were immediately getting plans, getting planes in, while we were just told get a commercial flight, and [to] stay safe.”

— Ryan Rivera Cabrera, Connecticut resident (CBS News)

What’s next

The State Department says it is working on a series of options to get more Americans home, including charter flights. However, closed airspace in the war zone is still stranding many travelers.

The takeaway

The evacuation issues faced by Americans in the Middle East highlight the need for the U.S. government to have robust and well-coordinated plans in place to protect its citizens abroad during times of conflict. The criticism from travelers suggests the State Department was ill-prepared to respond effectively to this crisis.