Second RSAF evacuation flight from Saudi Arabia arrives in Singapore; available seats offered to other nationals

SINGAPORE: The second Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft deployed to Saudi Arabia to evacuate citizens stranded in the Middle East arrived in Singapore on Friday (Mar 13).

A total of 81 Singaporeans and their dependents were on the flight from Jeddah to Singapore, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a news release.

"After prioritising and catering for Singaporeans who registered, available seats were also extended to nationals from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam," the ministry said.

"This is in the spirit of solidarity, just as how other countries have assisted Singaporeans in returning home in past crises."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said 42 students studying in Jordan were among those who returned to Singapore on Friday, adding that it had arranged their overland transport to Jeddah.

A recent university graduate told CNA that the entire bus journey from Jordan to Jeddah took about 26 hours. Recounting his experience when the Middle East conflict broke out, he said he was very scared.

“I was more nervous because of the uncertainty of the conditions," he added. "Thanks to MFA and everyone who was part of the team who really helped us, gave us reassurance.”

Another student who arrived on Friday said she was studying for her A-Levels and was currently separated from her mother.

"She still plans to work there in the Middle East ... but I have to start school," she said.

She added that the first evacuation flight from Riyadh was "busy". "A lot of seats were filling up fast, but thankfully, I got on this one," she said.

Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim said that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will engage those who are studying in the Middle East to help them navigate the disruptions to their studies.

"Some have just begun studies in their first year, while others are in their final semester and are close to completing their studies. So naturally, they are concerned about disruptions to their studies and what this may mean for their plans," he said at Changi Airport.

Assoc Prof Faishal noted that the situation in the Middle East remains uncertain. 

"This episode is a reminder that circumstances abroad can change very quickly. MFA has advised Singaporeans to defer all travel to the region due to security concerns ... disruptions to flights," he added. 

"Singaporeans who are in the region should remain vigilant, monitor developments closely, follow the instructions of local authorities and heed MFAs travel advisories."

Singapore had also previously mounted two repatriation flights out of Muscat, Oman. The flights served Singaporeans in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang said in a social media post on Friday that a total of 618 Singaporeans and their dependents have safely returned home over the past week on four repatriation flights from the Middle East.

This includes Singaporeans in Oman, Saudi Arabia and those in the neighbouring countries of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, who faced flight disruptions and wanted to return home.

Embassies in the region also arranged for overland transport, ferrying 535 Singaporeans and their dependents on buses to departure airports in Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah over the course of the week.

"Our strong ties with our partners in the Middle East have been invaluable in our repatriation efforts," Ms Gan said.

"I thank them for their support and expeditious processing of the approvals needed for us to facilitate the repatriation flights."

She added that the remaining available seats on the repatriation flights were offered to other citizens as a way of reciprocating the assistance provided by other countries in the past.

A Bruneian man travelling with his wife and three children told CNA after arriving at Changi Airport that the Brunei embassy had informed him about available seats on the second RSAF flight. 

He said he was very grateful for the assistance, describing the process of getting onto the flight as "very well organised and straightforward".

"It's one thing to provide an evacuation flight for your own citizens, but it's another thing to provide an evacuation flight for citizens of neighbouring countries as well," he said.

A Portuguese man and his wife, who is Singaporean, also expressed his gratitude to the Singapore authorities. 

"Saudi Arabia is fairly safe, but the closure of the airspace has resulted in few commercial flights left. And so it's great for the Singaporean government to have organised this ... It gave a lot of options to other people, even from outside Singapore, like myself," he said.

The Manila Bulletin reported that at least 24 Filipinos were on the repatriation flight on Friday.

Over the two evacuation flights conducted by the RSAF, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has successfully supported the return of 299 Singaporeans and their dependents from the Middle East, MINDEF said.

Singapore previously also arranged a flight to Oman for foreign visitors affected by the airspace disruptions.

Additional reporting by Eugene Chow and Sherlyn Seah