The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) deployed an Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to repatriate Singaporeans amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. The aircraft departed Changi Air Base on March 10, 2026, carrying out the first assisted departure flight from the region.
In a joint statement on March 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced the deployment in response to requests from Singaporeans in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia facing a lack of commercial flight options. The MRTT, capable of carrying up to 266 passengers or 37,000kg of cargo according to a 2018 MINDEF factsheet, supports air-to-air refueling and aero-medical evacuations.
The first flight arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 2 on March 11, transporting 218 Singaporeans and their dependents. Among them was Ms. Malathi Keshvani, who noted the comfort of seeing RSAF personnel aboard. The flight departed Riyadh at approximately 10:30pm on March 10. A second MRTT flight is scheduled for March 12.
This follows two earlier Singapore Airlines A350-900 repatriation flights from Muscat, Oman, on March 7 and 8, which brought home 319 Singaporeans from Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted the necessity of military flights for inaccessible locations. Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad described the mission as vital amid the conflict. Diplomatic clearances ensured Saudi airspace remained open for the operations, limited strictly to assisted departures.
Commercial options persist, with Etihad Airways scheduling flights from Abu Dhabi to Singapore on March 13, 15, 16, and 18, and Emirates operating select services.