South Korean authorities dispatched a military transport aircraft to rescue nationals stranded in the Middle East amid escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The KC-330 Signus plane departed Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 14 local time, carrying 204 South Koreans, five family members of foreign nationalities, and two Japanese nationals—a total of 211 passengers. The flight heads to Seongnam Seoul Air Base.
Operation ‘Wings of the Desert’
Dubbed ‘Wings of the Desert,’ this mission underscores the government’s commitment to retrieving citizens from conflict zones. Officials coordinated with 10 nations to ensure safe passage, with the Foreign Minister directly overseeing the real-time response team. Elite pilots from a public corporation joined the effort, alongside 10 special airborne control team (CCT) members and 60 support personnel in maintenance and medical roles aboard the aircraft.
Rescue from High-Risk Areas
The plane evacuated individuals from Kuwait, Bahrain, and Lebanon, where threats had trapped South Koreans. Those from Kuwait reached Riyadh beforehand via bus. This marks the first deployment of the Signus for overseas citizen rescues during wartime conditions.
Past Evacuations and Future Costs
In 2024, similar operations during major Hezbollah strikes in Israel airlifted 96 nationals from Lebanon. Authorities plan to bill adult passengers approximately 880,000 won to cover related expenses and current damages, based on regulations and situational factors.
