More than 200 Singaporeans and their dependents arrived at Changi Airport on Wednesday morning, marking the return on the first Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) military evacuation flight from Saudi Arabia.
The RSAF A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport landed at Changi Airport early Wednesday, having departed Riyadh the previous night. This flight was part of a broader operation to evacuate Singaporeans from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia amidst the ongoing Middle East war. A second flight is planned.
Passengers expressed immense relief and gratitude. "We can't be thankful enough, seriously, we can't be thankful enough. It is so good to be back home again," said Nick Nassier, who traveled from Doha to Riyadh for the evacuation.
Passengers on a Republic of Singapore Air Force A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Mar 10, 2026. (Photo: MINDEF)
For others, the presence of Singaporean soldiers provided immediate reassurance. "The way they spoke to us, the Singapore way of making you feel. When you hear these things, you feel like 'oh you're already home'," shared Ms Malathi Keshvani, who traveled with her husband and two children.
Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad commended the RSAF team, stating, "When called upon, they showed courage, fully knowing that going into the region meant coming under attack. This is something that I salute them for, their bravery, and this is something they have done without hesitation. This is the right thing to do. This is our duty to bring Singaporeans home."
The Ministry of Defence confirmed necessary diplomatic clearances were obtained for the operation. The flights are solely to support assisted departure operations.