Forum: What ‘Welcome home’ meant to a Singaporean on board an RSAF evacuation flight

“Welcome home.” These two words were spoken by a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) serviceman as my family boarded an evacuation aircraft in Riyadh that would take us safely back to Singapore.

We had not even taken off yet, but passengers looked around quietly, some smiling. Others wiped away tears.

When the aircraft lifted off, applause broke out. Then someone began singing Majulah Singapura, and others joined in.

The moment made me realise that home is not simply a place on a map but a shared identity, and the reassurance that when circumstances turn uncertain, your country will come for you.

My family and I had been living in Doha, where I worked. Just days earlier, we were sheltering at our home there during the missile attacks across the Gulf region. Living through those moments was deeply unsettling.

The safest place in our home was a small corner on the ground floor reinforced by pillars and without windows. My family and I would gather there whenever the sirens sounded.

Commercial flight options were uncertain due to airspace closures. But eventually, the Singapore Embassy contacted us and advised Singaporeans in the area to prepare to leave.

Standing at the foot of that RSAF aircraft in Riyadh was a moment I will never forget.

Our soldiers had flown thousands of kilometres into an uncertain region to take Singaporeans home. They greeted each passenger calmly, served meals and checked on families throughout the journey. It is a side of military service that is rarely visible to the public.

My wife captured the moment best. When the servicemen greeted passengers, she said: “When they said ‘Welcome home’, you already felt like you were home.” She admitted she still felt a brief moment of fear knowing the aircraft would be flying through uncertain airspace. “But when the pilot said it was an honour to take us home,” she said, “that was the moment I felt safe.”

We are deeply grateful to the Singapore Government, Ambassadors S. Premjith (Riyadh) and Pong Kok Tian (Doha), and the embassy teams who remained composed, met us personally and ensured we were cared for during a difficult journey home.

For Singaporeans who have grown up in stability, it is easy to assume peace is permanent. But even a brief experience in a conflict zone reminds us how fragile peace can be. Peace exists because generations before us built strong institutions, careful diplomacy and a national ethos of responsibility. Singapore’s tradition of national service and preparedness reflects this understanding – that safeguarding our people requires foresight, discipline and the willingness to serve when duty calls.

The words “Welcome home” that night were more than a greeting. They were a reminder that Singapore’s greatest strength lies not only in its prosperity or global connections, but also in its commitment to look after its people wherever they may be.

Nisar Keshvani