Hugs and tears of joy as Singaporeans in the Middle East return home on repatriation flight from Oman

SINGAPORE: Cheers erupted as passengers on a repatriation flight from Muscat, Oman arrived in Singapore on Saturday night (Mar 7) to the relief of loved ones anxiously waiting for them.

Many family members had gathered at the arrival hall of Changi Airport Terminal 3 more than an hour before Singapore Airlines flight SQ8001 landed at about 9.20pm.

As the passengers exited the baggage area, they were greeted with hugs, kisses and tears of joy by those closest to them.

The escalating war in the Middle East entered its second week on Saturday, with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian saying the country would never surrender and US President Donald Trump threatening to expand strikes to include new targets.

More than 150 Singaporeans and their dependents touched down safely on Saturday night, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a Facebook post.

"We are glad to see them reunite with their loved ones in Singapore," added the ministry.

Ms Saheen Nehar, her husband and their nine-month-old baby boy were greeted by her parents and cousin at Changi Airport. 

The family had been living in the United Arab Emirates for more than three months due to work.

They knew they had to leave the UAE after they saw debris crashing down opposite their home.

“We were actually in shock. You’re in denial until you see it for yourself. We were considering whether to wait for a flight out of Abu Dhabi instead, but we decided to leave quickly,” she said.

She described the journey from the UAE to Muscat as “really rough”, particularly with an infant.

“They don’t do well with irregular schedules. He wasn’t able to sleep and his meal times were disrupted," she said. 

"But we were in good hands, and that was what mattered. The Singapore team on the ground did a very good job.”

When the family finally boarded the flight from Muscat to Singapore, Ms Nehar said she felt a deep sense of relief.

Speaking to CNA at the arrival hall, Ms Nehar’s cousin said she felt reassured knowing the family was safely home.

“We were initially very anxious because the baby was with them. We’re very grateful to Singapore for being one of the few countries that acted very quickly,” her cousin said.

Ms Lynn Wang and her sister also arrived home on Saturday night and were met at the airport by her sister's boyfriend.

She had been working in Dubai for about a year and her sister had gone to the UAE on Feb 28 to visit her.

However, when news of the war broke while they were on a morning hike, they quickly decided to cancel their trip to Jordan and remain in Dubai instead.

In the early hours of Mar 1, the two were jolted awake by an alert warning of a potential missile threat. “Imagine being in such a deep sleep and suddenly being woken up by this loud alarm. It was so scary,” said the 38-year-old.

That experience prompted them to return home to Singapore.

They initially booked flights scheduled for Mar 8, but that was postponed. When the opportunity arose to take a repatriation flight, they decided they had to be on it.

She added that the journey from Dubai to Muscat was smooth and organised, with clear instructions throughout.

"MFA gave us updates every single day and we're very grateful," she said.

Mr Nahar Najib hugged his daughter and gave her a spin after he spotted his family through the crowd upon arriving home.

He has been working in Abu Dhabi for the past two and a half years and said he experienced the impact of the war since day one.

“We heard explosions. Doors and windows were shaking. They were really very loud. Usually, there would be four or five at one go. Once, there were about 20.”

Although he and his colleagues initially felt anxious as events unfolded, he said they were reassured by the constant updates they received about the situation.

Still, he wanted to return home and is unsure when he will head back to Abu Dhabi. “We’ll just have to wait and see until things get better,” he said.

His wife said that their three children had been constantly asking if their father was safe and when he would be coming home.

“I have friends and family who kept calling and checking in,” she said. “I’m very reassured to have him home.”

Coming home was Ms Francesca Khor, who was trying to locate her sister in the crowd. 

When she finally caught sight of her, she raised her hands to wave before the pair reunited in a tight hug. Ms Khor told CNA that she had gone to Dubai on Feb 25 for a business trip.

Recounting her journey from Dubai to Muscat, Ms Khor said: “I’ve never been on a bus for that long – 10 to 12 hours.

“The logistics were very good. It was an all-hands-on-deck situation. There were so many people helping us.”

She added that although the missile attacks initially came as a shock, life continued relatively normally.

“It was precautionary when the alerts came on, but we were also quickly notified when everything was clear. So we were not fearing for our lives.”

SECOND FLIGHT

In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was thankful that the flight had landed safely and thanked officers from various Singapore agencies for making it happen.

"Thanks also to our consular and embassy teams, the flight crew, and everyone who has been working round the clock to help Singaporeans return home safely," he added.

The flight also carried citizens from Malaysia and South Korea on the remaining available seats, said MFA. "This reflects the spirit of solidarity during such times of crisis, just like how other countries helped Singaporeans return home in the past," added the ministry.

Singapore will operate a second repatriation flight from Muscat on Sunday.

"Our thoughts remain with those whose loved ones have not yet returned," said Mr Lee in a Facebook post. 

"MFA will be mounting a second flight tomorrow and will continue reaching out to Singaporeans in affected areas, while also organising assisted overland trips for Singaporeans elsewhere in the Middle East. Our officers are working hard under challenging conditions to ensure the safety and security of Singaporeans."

One person looking forward to that second repatriation flight is Ms Jamaila, who is waiting for her sister to arrive home on Sunday. 

Her sister had already driven from Al Ruwais – where she lives with her husband – to Abu Dhabi and was continuing her journey to Muscat.

“We were very worried. My siblings and I are very close. They try to stay away from the windows because they can hear the missiles. The fear is real. 

“We feel so safe here. We shouldn’t take it for granted,” she added.