New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation yesterday (Thursday) feted Air India crew members and others from the airline who were associated with the recent evacuation operation in Yemen, termed Operation Rahat.
The function at the capital’s Samrat Hotel was attended by the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Culture and Tourism, Dr Mahesh Sharma, Air India chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan, Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation V. Somasundaran among others.
Last month, the Indian government conducted a highly successful evacuation mission for 1,947 nationals of 48 countries, apart from 4,741 Indians, who were stranded in Yemen as the Saudi Arabia-led coalition of forces launched operation Storm of Resolve to free the country from the clutches of Al Houthi militia. Air India, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Ministry of External Affairs and other Indian government agencies worked in close coordination with several other embassies to evacuate people to safety from the war-torn country.
Commenting on the nature of the challenge in Yemen, captain Ashish Sharma, who flew one of the single-aisle aircraft from the Air India fleet that took active participation in rescuing people from Sana’a, told Gulf News in New Delhi on Thursday: “It was an enormous task. We had to fly right into the war-zone. But I am really happy and proud that we could be of help to so many people and managed to answer the call of duty when it mattered. And my day was made when a French national came near the cockpit door and told me and my colleague: ‘Good job India. Keep it up Air India.’
“People cancelled their leaves and other commitments to be a part of the evacuation mission. When the nation needs you, there is always an urge to rise to the occasion and I believe that is what had happened with Air India,”
Harpreet Singh, overall in-charge of cabin crew members of the airline, told Gulf News. “We had no preparation for this mission, but we just dived into the situation and made sure we completed the task at hand.”
