S’poreans on second repatriation flight from the Middle East arrive to loud cheers at Changi Airport

“MFA will continue assisting Singaporeans in the Middle East who wish to return home,” the ministry added.

Expressing her relief at being back was Mrs Revathi Cashman, 48, who lives in Abu Dhabi and works for a trading platform there.

With her young son in tow, she said she was thankful for the Singapore Embassy staff who facilitated their journey back.

Her husband is currently in Australia on a work trip, and she said she will be joining him there soon, describing the situation in Abu Dhabi as being “quite bad”.

By 8.30pm, almost an hour before the flight was due to arrive, throngs of family members and friends of passengers had already gathered at the arrival hall to wait for their loved ones.

Among those waiting at the airport was Mr Kunalan Muthusamy, 54, who said he could not wait to see his wife and mother-in-law.

The pair were in Dubai for a holiday, having flown there on Feb 28. They were supposed to return on March 7, he said.

“I am really relieved that our Government prepared this flight for Singaporeans wanting to come home. It has been a very worrying week. I am so glad I can finally see my wife. She said she hasn’t bathed in a day, but it doesn’t matter, I just want to hug her,” the civil servant said.

The first repatriation flight from Muscat to Singapore took place on March 7, with

touching down.

The same Airbus A350-900 aircraft flew back to Muscat in the morning of March 8

who were stranded in Singapore, and made a return trip home on the same day carrying Singaporeans flying home on the second repatriation flight.

Those who had chosen to board the $600 flights were told to gather at the Singapore Embassy in Abu Dhabi, or the Millennium Airport Hotel in Dubai, at 7am local time (11am Singapore time) the day before their departures, after which they boarded buses that ferried them to Muscat.

Following the

, and Iran’s retaliation on most of the Gulf states, including the UAE and Oman, Singaporeans in the region were left scrambling to get home.

due to the escalating conflict, including Dubai’s.

The Government is planning another repatriation flight for Singaporeans and their dependants from Saudi Arabia – from the capital Riyadh or Jeddah, its second-largest city – between March 10 and 12.

Details have yet to be firmed up, and the date and time are subject to flight approvals and the ground situation.