Today, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister(I/C), Civil Aviation, passed over the letters of appreciation issued by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the 68 Air India Staff, who performed evacuation operation of the Indians stranded at Wuhan.  Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Civil Aviation, Shri Rajeev Bansal, CMD, Air India, Shri Ashwani Lohani, Ex-CMD Air India with other senior officials from Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India were present on the occasion.  Around 647 Indians, also 7 Maldivians, were evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the Novel Corona Virus Flu.

Praising the team’s exertion, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, the Civil Aviation Minister said, “We are proud of the intensive commitment shown by the Air India team to bring home their countrymen in spite of very trying conditions in the epidemic-hit Wuhan.”  He also told, “I feel proud to confer the appreciation of our Prime Minister expressed through personal letters to all those who had been part of this historic mission. I heartily thank all of them once again for their service to the nation.”

The crew of Air India did an emergency evacuation operation from the Wuhan city by sending two 423-seater B-747 aircraft for two consecutive days, on 31st of January 2020 and on 1stof February 2020 regardless of being aware of the serious condition in the area. The operation was led by Captain Amitabh Singh, Director Operations, Air India with 68 members of Air India led the operation. The Air India team comprised of 8 pilots, 30 cabin crew, 10 commercial staff and one senior officer. The heroic act got gratitude and affirmation from people throughout the world.