AI operates 2 spl flights to evacuate Indians

Mumbai, Jul 24: Two Boeing 747-400s of Air India (AI) left from here this morning for Larnaca to evacuate about 850 more Indian nationals from war-torn Lebanon.

An AI spokesman here said the planes were expected to return this evening. While one of the flights will operate on the Larnaca-Chennai sector, the other will land in Mumbai.

Earlier, two AI flights had brought back 602 Indians late Friday night from Larnaca in Cyprus. The first flight which landed at Chennai airport carried 341 Indian nationals, the other flight with 261 evacuees landed in Mumbai. These were the first in the series of flights that Air India will be operating to Larnaca, while a number of Indian nationals are also being brought by ship from Lebanon, he said.

The State-wise break up of the 261 passengers brought on flight to Mumbai on Friday is - Tamil Nadu 119, Delhi 88, Maharashtra 38, Kerala 6, Karnataka 1, West Bengal 1, Andhra Pradesh 1 and Nepal 7.

All passengers were sent to their respective destinations soon after their arrival in Mumbai on flights of Air India and Indian, the spokesman added.

AI also said after operating two flights today, they would fly more thereafter, as per demand projected by the Centre.

UNI