From sirens to safety: Second RSAF flight returns from Saudi Arabia with S’poreans, foreign nationals

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SINGAPORE – Shrapnel from an intercepted missile fell near Ms Deanna Yusra Rashid’s home in Jordan, a moment that underscored just how close the Middle East conflict had come.

“We heard the sirens more than five times a day and saw missiles almost every day,” said the 20-year-old Singaporean, who studies Arabic language and literature at Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan. “At night, it gets even scarier, because you do not know when or where it is going to land.”

She said the debris from intercepted missiles falling near where she lived left her worried that more could drop from the sky.

“We had to remain calm, even though we were all scared,” she added.

Ms Deanna planned to fly home on a Qatar Airways commercial flight on March 12, but she cancelled that ticket in favour of a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) repatriation flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as she was unsure when the airspace would reopen.

She said it was “very heart-warming” to hear the pilot announce “Welcome home” when the plane landed at Changi Airport. The repatriation flight – RSAF’s second since the US-Israeli attack on Iran began – arrived in Singapore on March 13 at 5.59am.

Her mother, Madam Siti Salha Salihoddin, 50, said the family had been worried.

“When she made a video call, we could hear the siren in the background... and we knew missiles were being intercepted near her area,” she said.

Eighty-one Singaporeans and their dependants returned on board the RSAF A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft, which was deployed to bring citizens home, as some locations were not accessible by commercial flights. Among them were 42 students studying in Jordan.

Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim, who was at Changi Airport Terminal 2 to greet the returnees, said: “Some have only just begun studies in their first year, while others are in their final semester and were close to completing their studies.”

He added that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore will reach out to returning students to provide support, including exploring alternative study arrangements with universities and offering counselling.

The Ministry of Defence said on March 13 that after prioritising Singaporeans, available seats on the flight were extended to nationals from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

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

Among those aboard were 24 distressed overseas Filipino workers who had been unable to secure outbound flights from Jeddah due to limited availability.

“Singapore and the Philippines are close friends, and we were very glad to help these Filipinos begin their journey home. At the end of the day, what matters most is that people return safely to their families,” said Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See in a statement.

Singaporean Solihin Zainal, 20, who began studying Islamic jurisprudence at the University of Jordan in September 2025, described his time there since the war began as “a rough ride”.

He had been torn about returning to Singapore. His lecturers and the locals appeared unconcerned, and he did not want to disrupt his studies.

“I was hearing sirens all day,” he said, especially around midnight when the attacks were most intense. He also saw explosions from afar.

In the end, he decided to leave so as not to worry his parents. “Better safe than sorry,” he added.

The availability of a repatriation flight, with costs covered, also made the decision easier. Mr Solihin travelled by bus from Amman, the capital of Jordan, to Jeddah – an overland journey of about a day.

He said he was surprised by how comfortable the flight was, and praised the crew for reassuring anxious passengers.

“I feel really grateful and happy,” he said, adding that he was glad to be home to spend the final days of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, as well as Hari Raya, with family and friends.

Ms Nur Nadhrah Badriah, 24, who recently graduated from Yarmouk University with a degree in Arabic language and literature, was also among those welcomed home by family members.

Waiting at the arrival hall was her mother, Madam Rozana Khamsen, 52, who said she was grateful and relieved to see her daughter safe.

Ms Nur Nadhrah said the past few days had been frightening. At first, she tried to remain calm, but her anxiety grew as the conflict dragged on.

“We really wanted to come back to our family and feel safe,” she said, adding that tears welled up when the pilot announced, “Welcome home”.

Her mother said Ms Nur Nadhrah had been scheduled to return on Feb 28, but her flight was cancelled after the attacks disrupted travel in the region.

Also on the flight was Mr Talhatul Khair, 25, who recently graduated from Yarmouk University with a major in Islamic jurisprudence.

“Every day, we would hear the sirens and the rockets flying above us,” he said.

Mr Talhatul and others made a 23-hour overland journey to Jeddah to board the repatriation flight. He had booked a commercial flight to leave on March 29 but decided to return home earlier when the repatriation opportunity arose.

Arriving in Singapore was emotional, especially seeing friends who had come to receive him at the airport.

“It has been months, years since I last saw them,” he said.

Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo, who was also at the airport, said Singapore would act whenever its citizens needed help. “It is important that, and with a huge sense of relief and encouragement, all our Singaporeans come back home safely,” he said.

In a Facebook post on March 13, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang said the safety of Singaporeans still in the Middle East remains the Government’s primary concern.

Ms Gan noted that some airlines have resumed commercial flights, which she encouraged Singaporeans to take. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and do our best to assist Singaporeans in the region,” she said.

The first repatriation flight from Muscat, Oman, on March 7, carried 152 Singaporeans and their dependants, while the second, also from Muscat, brought home 167 on March 8. National carrier Singapore Airlines operated both flights.

The first RSAF-operated repatriation flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, landed in Singapore on March 11, carrying 218 Singaporeans and their dependants.