Croatia Airlines Successfully Evacuates 150 From Saudi Arabia in Second Strategic Repatriation Mission to Zagreb

Croatia Airlines completes its second repatriation flight, bringing 150 citizens and EU nationals from Riyadh to Zagreb amid the Middle East war.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 8, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Croatia Week

National Carrier Leads Regional Evacuation Efforts

Croatia Airlines has completed its second emergency repatriation flight in 48 hours, bringing 150 individuals from Riyadh to Zagreb to escape the escalating volatility in the Persian Gulf. The aircraft touched down at Franjo Tuđman Airport at approximately 20:30 on Saturday, carrying a passenger manifest that included 123 Croatian citizens and 27 foreign nationals, primarily from European Union member states. This operation follows a similar mission on March 6, which evacuated 157 people from Dubai, as the national carrier asserts its role as a critical strategic asset for the Republic of Croatia during international crises.

Prioritizing Vulnerable Citizens in High Risk Zones

The manifest for the Riyadh–Zagreb flight highlighted the humanitarian nature of the mission, as the group included 27 children. Croatian diplomatic efforts have prioritized the evacuation of the most vulnerable groups, particularly those located in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, who have found themselves stranded following the commencement of U.S. and Israeli military operations. By focusing on families and citizens in the most exposed regions of the Gulf, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs aims to provide a secure corridor for those caught in the logistical paralysis caused by the suspension of regular commercial aviation.

Technical Execution of the Riyadh Mission

The carefully planned operation departed from the Saudi capital shortly after 15:00 local time on Saturday under the command of Captain Andre Šarinić. According to Šarinić, while safety is always the primary focus, repatriation missions carry an added emotional and professional weight because passengers are often fleeing deeply uncertain and dangerous circumstances. The flight was executed with high priority status, reflecting the airline's commitment to returning fellow citizens to a sense of security and domestic stability as the theater of war expands toward major metropolitan hubs in the Middle East.