News item | 11-10-2023 | 07:15
The Netherlands uses a military transport plane to take Dutch people out of Israel. The cabinet decided this last night. Today the aircraft leaves Eindhoven Air Base for Tel Aviv to repatriate fellow countrymen.
The unsafe situation is due to the fierce battle between the Israeli army and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is trying to find out how many people with a Dutch passport want to make use of this option.
Flexible in use
The aircraft is an Airbus A330 of the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) Unit that is stationed at Eindhoven Air Base. Such a device is usually used to refuel other aircraft in the air. But also for the transport of people, freight and (medical) evacuations. The A330 can accommodate 267 passengers and 45 tons of cargo.
MRTT aircraft are Dutch registered, but managed by NATO. They are financed by the participating countries, which are entitled to a number of flying hours annually. The partners jointly acquire, manage, operate and support the fleet. Eindhoven Air Base is the home base of the MRTT Unit. The aircraft are stationed there and in Cologne, Germany.