The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) sent three aircraft to Saudi Arabia last night on a mission to repatriate Thai people. They are expected to arrive at Don Mueang Airport around 8pm tomorrow.
According to air force spokesman AVM Prapas Sornchaidee, three aircraft — two C-130s and an Airbus A340-500 — departed from the air force’s Royal 6 airport next to Don Mueang.
The planes were headed to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) designated as a gathering place for Thai nationals wishing to return to Thailand.
The RTAF planned to use the Airbus to pick up Thai people evacuated from Sudan on Monday, while the C-130s were due to remain for those unable to join the first round of repatriation, AVM Prapas said, adding they will also fly to Sudan if the opportunity arises.
Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said 212 Thai nationals and three foreign spouses had expressed their desire to return to Thailand as of Monday.
The MFA, the Royal Thai Embassy in Cairo, and the Honorary Consulate-General in Sudan assisted in providing buses in Khartoum Monday that took them to a Sudanese port on the Red Sea yesterday.
The group will board a ship provided by the Saudi Arabian government for a trip to Saudi Arabia that was expected to take around 15 hours. They were then to board buses to Jeddah and fly to Thailand. The flight time is about eight hours. They will arrive at Don Mueang around 8pm tomorrow, said Ms Rachada.
Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai said five Thai nationals living in a part of Sudan where there is no fighting have also registered to return. The MFA will send a vehicle to collect this group, he added.
Regarding any problems related to international advance voting for the May 14 general election for those Thais who plan to stay in Sudan, Ms Rachada said the election law permits them to postpone voting twice.
If the fighting has not ended by the date of the second postponement, they will be counted as eligible voters who cannot exercise their right to vote due to unexpected events, she said.
Fierce clashes erupted in Sudan on April 15 between forces allied with two generals involved in a 2021 coup.
The World Health Organization said more than 420 people have been killed and over 3,700 wounded.