Strictly Come Dancing Star Details Terrifying Dubai Departure Amid Regional Conflict
Professional dancer Kai Widdrington has revealed he was aboard what he believes was "one of the last flights" to depart Dubai before Iranian missile strikes targeted various locations across the Middle East over the weekend. The 30-year-old Strictly Come Dancing performer shared his alarming experience during an appearance on BBC's Morning Live program today, March 2.
Narrow Escape from Escalating Conflict Zone
Widdrington had been holidaying in Dubai with his girlfriend, Chloe Wells, when regional tensions dramatically escalated. The dancer explained that by the time his flight landed back in Britain, news had broken about the strikes occurring in response to US and Israeli military actions on February 28.
"I think I must have been on one of the last flights to come out of Dubai," Widdrington told Morning Live hosts Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones. "By the time I'd landed, everything started happening, and I couldn't believe it because we were just there."
Proximity to Targeted Hotel Adds to Anxiety
The dancer's account became even more chilling as he disclosed his close proximity to one of the affected locations. Widdrington revealed he had been staying just two hotels away from the Fairmont Hotel on the Palm, which sustained damage from a shrapnel drone that caught fire.
"In fact, the hotel that got hit by a shrapnel drone that caught fire, I was actually staying two hotels down from there and was having dinner the night before at the back of that hotel," Widdrington recounted. "So it was quite a scary time."
Morning Live Hosts Address Widespread Travel Disruptions
During the program, hosts Skelton and Jones acknowledged the broader impact of the Middle East unrest on international travel. Skelton noted that many viewers would have been following coverage of the situation on BBC Breakfast, particularly those with connections to the region.
Jones added context about the aviation disruptions, stating: "Many lives are being affected, and it's a deeply worrying time for people. Closer to home, we're also seeing planes diverted or cancelled, with journeys to and from Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha, and other international hubs affected."
Social Media Reassurance to Concerned Followers
Following his safe return to the United Kingdom, Widdrington took to Instagram to reassure his followers about his and Wells' wellbeing. In a message reported by WalesOnline, the dancer expressed his disbelief at the unfolding events.
"To everyone sending messages, Chloe and I are back in the UK, safe," Widdrington wrote. "We were on an early hour flight out of Dubai this morning. We were staying a few hundred meters away from the Fairmont Hotel on the Palm, and had dinner outside that hotel just the other night."
He concluded his post with a heartfelt message: "Can't quite believe what is happening. Sending love and prayers to everyone involved in this madness."
The professional dancer's account highlights the sudden and frightening nature of international conflicts impacting travelers, even as he and his partner managed to depart the region just before the situation deteriorated significantly.
