Air India, as we all know is the flag carrier of India. It was founded by JRD. TATA in 1932. In beginning it was named Tata Air service, then Tata Airlines and later Air India. On 15 October 1932, it commenced its first flight from Karachi to Mumbai. Air India officially started its operation on 29 July 1946[1].
In this 73 years, Air India has served many people. For some, it became a source of income and for other sources to travel. Also, it helped many to become passionate Aviation Enthusiast. But, for many Indians and foreigners, it became life savior.
Many of us are unaware of the evacuation operation that Air India has performed so far during the time of crisis. It would have been impossible to evacuate such a large number of people without Air India.
Let me shed some light on evacuation operation Air India has performed so far.
1] 1990 Airlift from Kuwait
In 1990 Air India helped evacuate 1 lakh 70 thousand Indians stranded in Kuwait. The operation started out from 13 August 1990 to 20 October 1990. This operation was carried out before the Persian Gulf War in 1990. Air India operated a total of 488 flights for this operation. For this splendid job, Air India entered the Guinness book of world record[2].
2] 2015 Operation Raahat
In 2015 Air India along with Indian Air Force and Indian Navy evacuated 4640 Indian citizens and 960 foreigners. The operation started on 1 April 2015 and ended on 11 April 2015. The operation was carried out during the military intervention by Saudi Arabia and its allies in those countries during the Yemen crisis[3].
3] 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic
This was Air Indias first Epidemic medical evacuation in over 73 years of existence. The initial outbreak of coronavirus(Covid-19) was in Wuhan, China. Then it started to spread in other countries too.
1) Operation Diamond Princess
The ship which was quarantined in Japan had Indians stranded in it. On 27 February 2020, Air India was successful in bringing 119 Indians back home and 5 foreigners as well[4].
The ship which was quarantined in Japan had Indians stranded in it. On 27 February 2020, Air India was successful in bringing 119 Indians back home and 5 foreigners as well[4].
2) Operation Wuhan
The operation took place on January 31 and February 1. They operated two Boeing 747 Aircraft for this operation and one C17 aircraft. Air India along with Indian Air Force evacuated a total of 723 Indians and 43 foreigners. Also, C17 Aircraft supplied 15 tonnes of medical supply to Wuhan[5][6].
3) Operation Milan
Milan metropolis in Italy northern Lombardy region is a global capital of fashion and design. When many Indians were waiting for help from the home country, a special air India flight evacuated 211 Indian students and 7 compassionated cases. The flight from Milan took off on 14 March 2020 [7].
4) Operation Rome
Rome's capital of Italy, had some Indians stranded. On 21 March 2020, Air Indias 777 flight took off from Delhi and landed back on 22 march 2020 with 263 India[8].
All precautions were taken by Air India to ensure all passengers and crew safety and welfare.
The evacuation operation performed so far were not easy at all! People had risked their own lives to save others, and bring them back home. Many difficulties were faced during these operations. From landing in almost no visibility due to dusk storm in Yemen to landing in Wuhan, Rome where coronavirus had infected the majority of the population. It could have taken on their lives, but they continued to serve people. Mostly due to such crises everything gets shut down, people are asked to stay at home to be safe, but Air India never shut down, it continued its work.
Each one of us should be very thankful to all Air India employees, including Pilots, Cabin crew, Aircraft maintenance engineer, Catering service, Bus service, Cleaning staff, etc for work they have done till now. They left their families behind to serve us.
As we all know, for building to stand, all pillars are equally important, even if one pillar is not there the whole building gets collapsed. Same way collective efforts of all Air India employees have made this evacuation operation possible.
As we all know, for building to stand, all pillars are equally important, even if one pillar is not there the whole building gets collapsed. Same way collective efforts of all Air India employees have made this evacuation operation possible.
THANK YOU AIR INDIA!
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Reference-
5- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-air-india-flights-evacuate-indians-foreigners-wuhan-japan-ship-1650379-2020-02-27
6- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/pulse/operation-wuhan-an-air-india-evacuation-like-no-other/article30944670.ece
6- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/pulse/operation-wuhan-an-air-india-evacuation-like-no-other/article30944670.ece

Informative and salute to Air india
ReplyDeleteThank you....and yes salute to Air India.
DeleteVery true .... nicely written... great keep writing..
ReplyDeleteThank you
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