MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 3) The first group of Filipinos stranded in Thailand arrived in Manila late Monday onboard a special Philippine Airlines flight.

The MD-80 that took off Friday from Kansas City International Airport carried about 120 passengers. Some were headed for Mexico, others to Central and South America.

The Philippines and other foreign governments yesterday were racing to evacuate tens of thousands of visitors stranded in Thailand amid political crisis that has paralyzed the kingdom’s main airports in Bangkok for nearly a week.