NEW DELHI : An Air India flight ferrying foreigners stranded in India to Europe amid a raging pandemic has drawn rare praise from Pakistan, India’s arch-rival and neighbour.
A special flight operated by the national carrier to Frankfurt last week earned a thumbs-up from Pakistan’s Air Traffic Controller (ATC), a senior airline official said. “The flight, evacuating foreign nationals stranded in India, due to the curfew imposed by the government, was praised by Pakistan’s ATC officials,” the official said, requesting anonymity. The national carrier operated two international flights from Mumbai for relief operations and for evacuating foreign nationals stranded in India on 2 April.
One of these flights to Frankfurt, while entering Pakistan airspace, was applauded by the country’s ATC for the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the airline during the outbreak, which has grounded airlines around the world.
