Air India Express flight carrying 182 evacuees from Ukraine lands in Mumbai


PTI, Mar 1, 2022, 5:42 PM IST

Mumbai:  An Air India Express flight carrying 182 Indian nationals, mostly students, evacuated from Ukraine landed here from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning, an airline spokesperson said.

Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane received them at the Mumbai airport, the spokesperson added.

The AI Express flight IX-1202 from Bucharest via Kuwait touched down at the airport at 7.40 am.

Of 182 passengers, 25 were from Maharashtra, 38 from Haryana, 34 from Uttar Pradesh, 10 from Gujarat and the remaining 75 from other parts of the country, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) later said in a release. Air India Express is the international budget arm of Air India, which is now owned by the Tata Group.

The airport operator also said that complying with the instructions of the Mumbai civic body BMC, government and Airport Health Organization (APHO), it undertook several measures to facilitate a smooth transit of the passengers to their respective destinations while adhering to all necessary norms and COVID-19 protocols.

Air India had operated the first chartered flight to Mumbai from Bucharest with 219 Indian evacuees from Ukraine on Saturday.

India began evacuation of its citizens from Romania and Hungary — western neighbours of Ukraine — on Saturday after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Union minister Rane addressed the students inside the aircraft.

The passengers were later received at the aerobridge by airport officials who escorted them out and ensured their exit on priority, CSMIA said.

CSMIA, in coordination with travel operators, assisted some 85 passengers with their domestic onward ticket booking, it said. One of the students who returned by the AI Express flight said the plight of those stuck in eastern parts of Ukraine, which is largely affected by the Russian attack, is worse, as they can not reach the western borders easily.

”We hid in our hostels for a couple of days and then managed to reach the western border quickly. Thousands of students in educational institutions in the eastern parts of Ukraine are facing a grim situation as travelling by road from there is extremely difficult,” said Nishi Malkani who studied in a university in western Ukraine.

Poorva Patil, another student, thanked God for the safe return.

Narrating her experience, Patil said, “First, we were asked to stay inside our hostel rooms and were later sheltered in bunkers. It was severe cold with temperature around 2 degrees Celsius. We travelled almost 10 km by hiring a bus to reach near the Romanian border.”

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

10 month baby gets new heart, new life

Actress Kasthuri released from jail, says ‘I thank those who made me raging storm’

Kidnapped for ransom in 1998, 26/11 survivor Gautam Adani faces biggest trial

100 engineering colleges in Karnataka to be ‘adopted’ by corporates by next year: IT Minister Kharge

Siddaramaiah defends BPL ration card cancellation, says only ineligible beneficiaries affected

China announces new policy measures to protect its exports from Trump’s new tariff threat

Renovated Medical Oncology OPD and Chemotherapy Day Care Centre inaugurated at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal

Related Articles More

PM Modi leaves for home after concluding three-nation visit

Actress Kasthuri released from jail, says ‘I thank those who made me raging storm’

Kerala HC quashes FIR against Goa Guv over remarks on Sabarimala women entry

Smriti Irani embarks on four-nation tour to promote book on PM Modi

Karnataka Milk Federation enters Delhi-NCR, offers competitive pricing on Nandini products

MUST WATCH

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation

Geethotsava

Naxal Operation


Latest Additions

‘Bengaluru Chalo’ protest demand rejection of Kasturirangan Report

Mangaluru: Cyber frauds posing as TRAI representatives fleece Rs 1.71 crore

10 month baby gets new heart, new life

Saura Swasthya launched: Karnataka to power 5,000 health facilities with solar energy

India-US ties have strong foundation: White House confident in navigating crisis over Adani bribery charges

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.