TAMPA, Fla. — The second flight of evacuees from Israel landed early Friday at Tampa International Airport.

Gov. Ron DeSantis greeted the passengers and talked about the state’s ongoing evacuation operation to get people out of the Israel-Iran conflict area.


What You Need To Know

  • The second flight of evacuees from Israel landed early Friday at Tampa International Airport

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis greeted the passengers and also will be discussing the state’s ongoing evacuation operation

  • MORE INFORMATION: Florida Disaster.org | Israel Evacuation Assistance

“What’s happening over there,” DeSantis said. “Given you have a barrage of missiles being launched by a hostile regime into Israel, given the airports are shut down, given the neighboring areas are not that easy to navigate, this is probably the most challenging logistical mission that the Florida Department of Emergency Management has done.”

So far, the state has brought over two rescue flights, helping more than 300 people get out of Israel.

The flights are for American citizens, bringing them to Tampa and many of them have to continue on to wherever they call home.

The first flight from Cyprus arrived Thursday carrying evacuees, mostly from the group Birthright Israel.

Group members were on a 10-day trip to Israel when the missile attacks began.

A cruise ship moved 1,500 people from Israel, across the Mediterranean to Cyprus where the evacuees prepared for flights to Tampa International Airport.

The rescue trips are being organized by the state and assisted by the group Grey Bull.

The evacuees said they feel grateful to be back home.

“We were pretty good and stuck,” said Tallassee resident Steve Passetti, after exiting the plane and greeting the governor. “We were running around to different places trying to get away. From everything, about four days I think we were getting bombed, so getting out of there is a miracle.”