'Very relieved': Passengers on first Dubai-Singapore flight since Middle East war began recount stressful journey home
“We were very, very thrilled, very happy. Very grateful. We prayed every day," said a mother who welcomed her son back at Changi Airport.
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SINGAPORE: The first flight carrying Singapore residents stranded in the Middle East touched down on Thursday morning (Mar 5), ending days of uncertainty for travellers stranded by the escalating war involving Iran.
Flight EK314, operated by Emirates, departed Dubai around 9pm local time on Wednesday and landed at Changi Airport just after 8.15am on Thursday.
Emirates had announced it would operate a limited number of repatriation and freighter flights on Tuesday and Wednesday amid the unfolding crisis.
Thursday's arrivals come as carriers worldwide continue to cancel or suspend services across the region, with hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran showing no sign of abating.
Mr Carl Rajoo, who had been stuck in Dubai for four days after a business trip, said he was “very relieved” to be back home.
The economist was supposed to fly back to Singapore last Saturday but was turned away upon reaching the airport in Dubai.
“I didn't even know the flight was cancelled, I was just arriving (at the airport). So it was a bit stressful,” he said.
He booked a room at the closest hotel he could find, and got in touch with his company, which managed to find him a flight back.
But the 43-year-old had to endure many flight cancellations from Sunday up until Wednesday, which he said was “very stressful”.
His earlier flight out on Wednesday at 2.30am Dubai time had also been cancelled. While he managed to secure a spot on the later flight at 9pm, he still has friends who were stuck in the Middle East.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and its overseas missions in the Middle East have asked Singaporeans stranded in the region to indicate their interest in assisted departures through an online survey.
The ministry has also advised all Singaporeans to defer travel to the Middle East.
"VERY, VERY THRILLED"
Mr Rajoo said he did not have many concerns while on the flight.
“I think when they open the airspace, it feels quite secure. They're not going to just open it when there are missiles flying overhead.
“The only fears I had was really at the start where there was a lot more missile warnings and there's a lot more explosions in the air,” he added.
Waiting for him at the airport were his parents, Mr Gerald Rajoo and Ms Teresa Ooi, and his wife Ms Geraldine Lin.
“We were very, very thrilled, very happy. Very grateful. We prayed every day,” said Ms Ooi, on how she felt knowing her son was coming back home.
She added that she was “devastated” when she found out he could not get on his initial flight back on Saturday.
Ms Lin added that her husband’s company and MFA were very supportive throughout the process.
But she did not want to get her hopes high yet, even when she heard he was taking the flight back.
“Even until today … we dare not be too hopeful,” she said, in case the flight was cancelled again.
Captain Ashok K Batura, Honorary Consul General of Malta in Singapore, and his wife Mrs Sarita Batura reunited with their daughter and two granddaughters, who had prepared a sign to welcome them.
Mrs Batura teared up as she embraced her daughter. She told CNA she worried daily about whether she would make it back home.
The couple had flown out to Malta in late February for a work trip, with their travel including a layover in Dubai. They were supposed to arrive in Singapore last Saturday as well.
They received an email notifying them their flight was cancelled, but that their tickets were still valid. However, rebooking the flights proved to be a hassle, said Capt Ashok.
His colleague in Singapore helped by heading down to the Emirates office to rebook the flight.
Otherwise, in Dubai, it was overwhelming. "Nobody can contact Emirates," he added.
While happy to finally head back home, the couple was still anxious while in the air. Mrs Batura said she kept chanting her prayers and was only relieved after the plane flew out of the Gulf area.
Captain Ashok added: "When you fly out, almost the first flight out of the war zone, you don't know whether you will reach home or not.
Anything can happen to the plane."
On Thursday morning, CNA also saw several passengers checking in for an Emirates flight to Dubai which departed at 10.30am.
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