An RSAF A330 MRTT aircraft departing Changi Air Base on March 10, 2026 to evacuate Singaporeans from Saudi Arabia. (Facebook/Zaqy Mohamad)
Singapore has deployed a military aircraft to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East as tensions escalate amid the ongoing war involving Iran. Reported from Channel News Asia, A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) departed Changi Air Base for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 10 as part of efforts to bring Singaporeans in the region home safely. The aircraft is expected to return later the same day with evacuees on board, while a second repatriation flight from Saudi Arabia is being planned for March 12.
Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad said in a Facebook post that the deployment was arranged after many Singaporeans requested assistance to return home due to the limited availability of commercial travel options. “The Singapore government has deployed the MRTT to bring them home. This is an important mission and we will do our utmost to ensure everyone returns safely,” he said.
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the A330 MRTT will assist in evacuating Singaporeans from several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.The aircraft is capable of carrying around 200 passengers. Singaporeans boarding the repatriation flights will not be charged, although the service will be a no-frills arrangement with one meal provided during the journey.
Authorities added that Saudi Arabia’s airspace remains open and that the necessary diplomatic clearances have been secured. The MRTT will follow flight routes typically used by civilian aircraft in order to maintain safety. Over the weekend, Singapore also organised two repatriation flights from Muscat, Oman, which helped bring home Singaporeans residing in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Those two countries account for roughly 60 per cent of Singaporeans in the region who have registered with the MFA.
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