Profound joy and tears of relief greeted the first Australian military-assisted departure flight from Israel on touch down at its final destination.
The Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A and its crew had successfully completed a 14-hour mission to fly through a volatile region under uncertain circumstances, to airlift more than 110 Australians and their families to safety.
The ground operations team who had guided the plane and its crew to Tel Aviv and back throughout the day were on the tarmac to greet their colleagues as they disembarked, sharing in the pride and satisfaction of a mission well done.
Deputy Commander Air Task Unit Flight Lieutenant Nathan Howard said he wished he could quantify the emotions they were feeling.
"To see that plane taxi in knowing that we'd helped 119 people get safely away from a volatile area, but also knowing that the team that we were supporting made it back safely in some uncertain circumstances, none of us in that moment could have been prouder to be Australians or prouder to be serving members," Flight Lieutenant Howard said.
"There's no limit to the words I could use to explain how incredible that was."
This first flight proved to be one of the most emotionally taxing for many of the aircrew and air mission support team involved, as the high-risk environment placed their colleagues in a destabilised region, prone to further escalation.
"When the flight was on the ground in Israel there were warnings and indicators that missiles were going to be launching, as well as other potential airborne threats from neighbouring regions," Flight Lieutenant Howard said.
"Sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon would probably be more comfortable than how we felt in the ops room waiting to know that our team was going to get home safe. It was thick, nervous energy in the room."
'I just remember the first passenger coming on board - he had the biggest smile on his face, and that kind of set the scene for the rest of the operation.'
Among the air crew and the passengers on the plane, there were heart-warming stories.
Air Mobility Support Team member Flight Lieutenant Natasha Willett said from the moment the crew saw the families they were there to help, they forgot their own fears and were eager to complete their mission.
"I just remember the first passenger coming on board - he had the biggest smile on his face, and that kind of set the scene for the rest of the operation," Flight Lieutenant Willett said.
"Everyone was so relieved and expressed their gratitude for us being there. The passengers were exhausted but just ecstatic to be on board.
"Once we saw the bus pull up and the people getting off [to board the plane], it was like all the worries we had were put aside and the people were the main focus, making sure they got on safely and were settled in and good to go."
Committing to serve in the ADF means every member knows they might be sent into a conflict zone, putting their own lives at risk to complete the mission.
The aircrew who flew in to get their fellow citizens out of harm's way knew the importance of their operation.
"It will be something I will hold closely," Flight Lieutenant Willett said.
"Seeing the smiles on faces, everyone clapping when we arrived. It just really showed how grateful they were and the great impact that we had on these people's lives. They will hold that experience for the rest of their lives as well and that means a lot."
ADF personnel and aircraft are deployed to the Middle East in non-combat roles under Operation Beech 2025 to assist Australian Government efforts to support Australians seeking to leave the region.
Operation Beech is Defence's support to the Australian Government consular response to the Middle East conflict.
