16-10-2023 (BANGKOK) A Royal Thai Air Force plane brought 130 Thai nationals safely home from Israel on Monday morning, marking the fourth group of returnees since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on October 7.
Departing from Israel’s Ben Gurion airport at 7:27 pm Thailand time on Sunday, the air force’s A340-500 landed at Don Mueang airport at 6:50 am on Monday. The group consisted of 127 men, two women, and a five-year-old girl, who were warmly received at Wing 6 terminal by Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang and Air Force Chief-of-Staff ACM Seksan Kantha.
Before their departure, all passengers underwent medical examinations by an air force medical team and underwent security checks. Among the returnees, one individual had sustained an injury before the conflict, another had broken their arm and undergone surgery, and five had flu-like symptoms but tested negative for coronavirus using ATKs (Antigen Test Kits).
After completing the immigration process, they were transported from Don Mueang airport to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, where they would be reunited with waiting relatives.
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang confirmed that the aircraft would return to Israel to bring back another group of Thai nationals on Wednesday, following the same route.
Upon their arrival on Monday, the workers were provided with initial compensation of 15,000 baht each by the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security would handle transportation to their respective home provinces.
Expressing their relief at being safely home, the workers conveyed their gratitude to the Thai embassy staff for their unwavering support and assistance. While some mentioned their reluctance to return to work in Israel due to the ongoing conflict, others expressed their intention to return, driven by financial obligations that still needed to be met.
