2015/04 - Nepal earthquake

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, claiming more than 7,800 lives. In response to the devastation, the SAF deployed C-130 aircraft to airlift a Singapore relief contingent and their equipment to assist in the affected area. The contingent consisted of the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre advance team, and members of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force. More than 100 RSAF air traffic controllers, engineers, logisticians, and mission planners worked through the weekend for this mission, while 122 Squadron personnel were sent to the disaster-hit area. In addition, the RSAF enabled the safe evacuation of 95 Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, and other nationals out of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The SAF team returned to Singapore on 11 May 2015 after completing 11 sorties.

RSAF personnel loading the SCDF truck onto the C-130 before the mission.

“The RSAF's response was really good because we were aware that we couldn't get out on a domestic or an international flight…However, we knew that the RSAF works with the authorities in Nepal and were comforted by the fact that we could count on their support."

Lim Kun Jie, Operations Executive, 2015 a Singaporean who was left stranded at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu after the earthquake shook Nepal

“After being activated on short notice, I flew the first C-130 into Nepal to deploy disaster relief teams from the SAF and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. This deployment was particularly challenging due to the long distance from Singapore and the mountainous terrain, and the C-130 aircrew also had to overcome many uncertainties to achieve mission success. Thankfully, we went on to bring back Singaporeans who were trapped in Nepal."

LTA Edwin Teo, Pilot, 122 Squadron, 2015 who was part of the RSAF deployment to Nepal