Chaos at Cairo airport as thousands struggle to leave Egypt

More than 18,000 passengers crowded to Cairo International Airporton Tuesday, frantic for a way out. A number only exceeded by the 250,000 demonstrators who converged in the capital's downtown — the stage for the protest movement’s showdown in an attempt to oust Egypt's ruler of 30 years, Hosni Mubarak.

The airport made for an equally chaotic atmosphere – tourists and foreigners anxious to leave. One group of EgyptAir employees reportedly scuffled with passengers who rushed the ticket counter, desperate to secure a reservation, according to airport officials.

Others called on their government for help, and the planes came in droves. Airlines from around the world arranged about 85 flights to ferry people to their respective nations.

The destinations included the more placid Libya, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The US sent in more than a dozen charter flights on Monday and Tuesday to fly those citizens who wished to leave. More flights to the designated safe haven destinations of Cyprus, Turkey and Greece were expected Wednesday.

Egypt Air, the national carrier, cancelled about 100 of its nearly 150 scheduled international flights and halted its service after 5 pm until Wednesday morning. The carrier has been cancelling about 75 percent of its flights because crew are either unable to make it because of curfews, or are too worried about leaving their families.

Officials said about 3,000 to 3,500 passengers were at the airport after the curfew went into effect for the night. In previous nights, that has meant the passengers were essentially stranded until the morning.

Making matters worse, an order from the US State Department called for all non-emergency personnel and their families to leave. Washington had, until Tuesday, just suggested it would be a good idea to go.

Not everyone faced the same difficulty getting out of the country however.

The family of the former tourism minister, Zohair Garanah, left Cairo on a Greece-bound private jet, marking the latest exit from the country by a member of Egypt's reviled business and political elite. Protesters have complained that Mubarak's regime favored the rich at their expense, and several wealthy businessmen are members of the parliament.

Online media worldwide also reported how policemen and airport personnel were making the most out of the situation, charging bribes to let people through.

Most of the 3,500 Finns at resorts in Egypt have returned home on flights organized by their travel agencies. A 200-seat aircraft was to be sent to Cairo by the Finnish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to evacuate those living in Egypt.

Britain said it had not ordered its staff to leave, but confirmed most diplomats' families had left. Germany, meanwhile, expanded its travel warning to include Red Sea resorts, but did not order evacuations. Some 1.2 million Germans visit Egypt each year.