A Dutch repatriation flight to bring stranded holidaymakers and others back from the Middle East has been delayed because of the “security situation”, the foreign ministry said on Saturday.

The flight from Muscat in Oman is operated by tour company Corendon and should have left on Saturday afternoon. “Safety is paramount and the ministry is monitoring the situation from hour to hour, together with the airlines,” a spokesman said.

Passengers who are due to travel on the plane have been contacted by phone and Corendon will try to place them on the next available flight.

An earlier flight from Oman did land at Schiphol on Saturday morning. It was carrying 281 people, some of whom had travelled to Muscat from Dubai by bus. A flight from Egypt carrying 56 Dutch nationals also landed on Friday night.

Foreign minister Tom Berendsen told a television programme on Friday evening that some 9,500 Dutch nationals have filled in a form asking to be repatriated and 5,000 qualify for government help. He said he hoped most would be back “by the end of next week”.

The defence ministry is also prepared to use military aircraft to bring people back from areas where airfields are closed and it is too dangerous to travel by bus, he said.

People who are repatriated by the government will be asked to pay a contribution of €600 per person.