Singaporeans and their loved ones experienced emotional reunions at Changi Airport as the first repatriation flight from Muscat, Oman, landed safely Saturday night. Over 150 citizens and dependents returned, met with hugs and tears.
Families, including Ms. Saheen Nehar and her nine-month-old baby, had been living in the UAE and left due to escalating conflict. "We were actually in shock... We decided to leave quickly," Nehar stated, describing the challenging journey to Muscat. She expressed relief upon boarding the flight to Singapore, crediting the ground team for their efforts.
Ms. Lynn Wang, who had been in Dubai for a year, also returned with her sister. "It was so scary," she recalled, after being woken by an alert warning of a potential missile threat. The pair seized the opportunity to take the repatriation flight after their original travel plans were disrupted.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked Singapore officers for their work in facilitating the safe return and announced a second repatriation flight was scheduled for Sunday. The flights also carried citizens from Malaysia and South Korea, reflecting international solidarity.