Once Again, KC-330 'Cygnus' Military Transport Aircraft Rescues Koreans from Danger Zones
During the war situation between the United States and Israel and Iran, Korean nationals stranded in the Middle East returned home on the KC-330 'Cygnus', a military transport aircraft that has been used several times in the past for evacuating Korean expatriates.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense on March 16, a single Cygnus military transport aircraft carrying a total of 211 people—including 204 Korean nationals, 5 foreign family members, and 2 Japanese nationals—returned to Korea via Seoul Airport in Seongnam the previous day. This evacuation operation, named "Light of the Desert," involved gathering Koreans who were staying in Saudi Arabia as well as those residing in three neighboring countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, and Lebanon—into Saudi Arabia before the evacuation. The government initially considered using commercial or chartered flights, but due to safety concerns, decided to deploy a military transport aircraft.
The Cygnus model has been used several times for evacuation operations involving Korean expatriates in dangerous regions. Most recently, on October 5, 2024, a military transport aircraft was used to repatriate 96 Korean nationals and others from Lebanon after the Israeli military launched attacks targeting the armed group Hezbollah. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "At that time, although the airspace was open, the airport was closed and it was impossible to secure a commercial flight."
Hot Picks Today
"Could I Also Receive 370 Billion Won?"... No Limit on 'Stock Manipulation Whistleblower Rewards' Starting the 26th
- Samsung Electronics Labor-Management Reach Agreement, General Strike Postponed... "Deficit-Business Unit Allocation Deferred for One Year"
- "From a 70 Million Won Loss to a 350 Million Won Profit with Samsung and SK hynix"... 'Stock Jackpot' Grandfather Gains Attention
- "Stocks Are Not Taxed, but Annual Crypto Gains Over 2.5 Million Won to Be Taxed Next Year... Investors Push Back"
- "Who Is Visiting Japan These Days?" The Once-Crowded Tourist Spots Empty Out... What's Happening?
In addition, the Cygnus was also used in October 2023 to evacuate 220 people, including 163 Korean nationals, during the war between Israel and Hamas, which began with a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group. The aircraft was also deployed in the "Miracle Operation" in August 2021, when Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, was taken over by the Taliban, to rescue 391 Afghans and their families who had assisted Korea.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
