‘We’re all on edge’: South Florida man stranded in Israel as airspace closes after strikes on Iran

South Floridian remains stuck in Israel following Middle East conflict The sound of missile sirens was recently captured on a cellphone in Jerusalem, where Aventura resident Scott Wayne is hoping to come home.

MIAMI — The sound of missile sirens was recently captured on a cellphone in Jerusalem, where Aventura resident Scott Wayne is waiting at his hotel for word on how he can return home.

“I’ve contacted the State Department numerous times and I have also logged into the STEP Program, which they’ve told me, and I’ve got nothing back from the United States government,” Wayne said.

Wayne sent Local 10 video from a bomb shelter underneath the King David Hotel, where he said he has been waiting intermittently among other anxious guests.

“The feeling is is that we’re all very scared and we’re on edge,” he said.

In a virtual interview, Wayne said he flew from Fort Lauderdale to Tel Aviv by way of Abu Dhabi. Now, with Israel’s airspace closed, he is unable to leave.

“I’d like to leave as soon as possible and I’ve contacted the airlines,” he said.

Wayne is among thousands of Americans trying to return to the United States from Israel. The country’s airspace closed Saturday following strikes on Iran. The Iranian regime responded with strikes aimed at Israel and U.S. targets across the region.

“I would really like the United States government to do something as an American citizen and help the U.S. citizens to get out of Israel, the ones that want to leave,” Wayne said.

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About The Author
Saira Anwer

Saira Anwer

Saira Anwer joined the Local 10 News team in July 2018. Saira is two-time Emmy-nominated reporter and comes to South Florida from Madison, Wisconsin, where she was working as a reporter and anchor.