Crew screening delays Air India evacuation plan by a day

National carrier Air India Ltd, which was slated to operate flights to bring back citizens stranded abroad from 7 May, will now launch the flights from 8 May due to medical checks for the crew of the aircraft, a senior airline official said.

“Pilots and cabin crew will have to undergo covid-19 tests before taking the flight. Infected crew members, if any, will not be allowed to carry out the repatriation operations,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

“Due to this and other operational reasons, the repatriation flights have been postponed by a day,” the official added.