25 February,2022 08:11 AM IST | New Delhi | Agencies
An Indian student meets with her family members on her return from Ukraine, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, in New Delhi, on Thursday. Pic/ANI
An Air India plane that took off for Kyiv in Ukraine on Thursday morning to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation is returning to Delhi due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace amid the Russian military offensive.
After the Air India flight had departed from Delhi on Thursday morning, the Ukrainian authorities issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which stated that flights of civil aircraft within Ukraine "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation". Air India and the central government then decided to call back the plane to Delhi, officials said, adding that the plane took an about turn in the Iranian airspace to return to Delhi. An airline spokesperson said the Air India flight AI 1947 is returning as a NOTAM has been issued at Kyiv.
The flight started from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here at around 7.30 am for Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv. Meanwhile, a Ukraine International Airlines flight from Kyiv landed at the Delhi airport at around 7.45 am on Thursday. "There were 182 Indian nationals onboard the flight and majority of them were students... A couple of more flights have been scheduled," Anju Wariah, Director at STIC Group, said. The group is the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Ukraine International Airlines in India.
Ukraine is "deeply dissatisfied" with India's position on the crisis arising out of Russian military offensive, Ambassador Igor Polikha said on Thursday and sought New Delhi's support in defusing the situation. He said PM Narendra Modi is among those whom President Vladimir Putin listens to and New Delhi can use its proximity with Moscow to bring peace. His comments came a day after Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said India has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and it takes an "independent and balanced" approach to world affairs. Agencies
Movement of people is now difficult in Ukraine and those hearing air sirens and bomb warnings should find nearby bomb shelters, the Indian embassy in Kyiv said in a fresh advisory to Indians there. "We are aware that certain places are hearing air sirens/bomb warnings. In case you are faced with such a situation, google maps has a list of nearby bomb shelters, many of which are located in underground metros," it said. "While Mission is identifying possible solution to the situation, please be aware of your surroundings, be safe, do not leave your homes unless necessary and carry your documents with you at all times."
India on Thursday was firming up contingency plans including activating alternative air routes to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine. "Focus is on safety and security of Indians, particularly students," said a source in the Ministry of External Affairs. An estimated 15,000 Indians are in Ukraine. The helpline numbers of Indian Embassy in Kyiv are: +38 0997300483/428, +38 0933980327, +38 0635917881, +38 0935046170.
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