Aker Solutions Chartered Flights Evacuate Employees and Families from Dubai

Aker Solutions chartered a flight that landed at Oslo Airport Gardermoen on Friday, March 8, 2026, evacuating 44 people, including its own employees, their families, and personnel from other companies operating in Dubai. The evacuation was prompted by heightened tensions in the region following attacks in Iran.

Family’s Journey to Safety

The Eide Kristiansen family from Sandnes, Norway, were on holiday in Dubai when the situation escalated. Roy Kristiansen described the experience as “unreal and dramatic,” recounting hearing loud bangs while on the beach on February 28, 2026. After a loud boom woke them on Monday morning, the family decided to leave Dubai.

Crossing into Oman

With airspace closed, the family traveled by car to the border of Oman, a journey of seven to eight hours. They secured visas upon arrival and continued their journey to safety.

Securing a Seat on the Aker Solutions Flight

In Oman, Kristiansen discovered two flights to Oslo and contacted Aker Solutions, who chartered one of the planes. After providing passport information, the family received handwritten boarding passes and were able to board the flight on Thursday evening. Kristiansen described the departure as “an enormous relief.”

Criticism of Norwegian Government Response

Kristiansen expressed dissatisfaction with the speed of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ response, stating that concrete information was difficult to obtain. He emphasized his gratitude for the assistance provided by Aker Solutions.

Aker Solutions’ Account

Hallvard Norum, Vice President for Media and Channels at Aker Solutions, confirmed the company chartered the aircraft as a precautionary measure for its employees and their families. He acknowledged the logistical challenges involved in the evacuation, including documentation and last-minute changes to the passenger list.

Assisting Additional Passengers

Norum explained that the company was able to accommodate the Eide Kristiansen family and other Norwegians due to cancellations, stating, “We wanted to bring as many people as possible… and with the conditions and deadlines we had to deal with, it was difficult to fill the plane completely again. But we are happy that we got both Roy and his family along as well as a good number of others outside Aker Solutions.”

Aker Solutions has offices in multiple locations worldwide, including Angola, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, China, Finland, India, Malaysia, and Norway, as well as Dubai. Observe a full list of locations.