A British schoolboy who was trapped in Abu Dhabi because of his acute fear of flying touched down in Britain -- after being HYPNOTISED. Joe Thompson, now 12, had been due to fly back to Britain with his family last June after his father Tony's work contract in the UAE ended. He tried four times to board a plane with his family, but each time he broke down in tears and refused to fly. His acute fear of travel also meant he was unable to board a boat or car to make the 4,500-mile journey. But now he has been reunited with his family when he was hypnotised into overcoming his fear of flying when he touched down at Heathrow at 5.30am. He was accompanied by his father Tony, 62, and internationally renowned hypnotherapist Russell Hemmings who treated the troubled schoolboy after learning of his phobia.