'Second line of defence' Air India team details 'challenging' Wuhan evacuation

evacuation operation to rescue Indians from China's Wuhan city in wake of dely coronavirus outbreak was a "challenging operation" said Air India's Director of Operations Captain Amitabh Singh on Thursday. captain informed that airline is second line of defense wher it is a conflict, natural disaster or an epidemic outbreak.

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"Air India is second line of defense wher it is a conflict, natural disaster or a disease like this. It has always served country. It was a challenging operation. We have a team and every department knows its role", he said.

64-member team to rescue

evacuation operations included a total of 64 members. team included 30 cabin crew, 8 pilots, 10 commercial staff of Air India and one senior officer from AI CMD Secretariat. team was led by Air India's Director of Operations Captain Amitabh Singh. He informed that he le team as an executive commander and when y reached Wuhan all ros and buildings were empty.

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"I was executive commander of flight. It was first time we got involved in going to so-called epicentre of epidemic. re was no or airplane re. All ros and buildings were empty. It was as if we came to anor planet," he said.

He also informed that passengers were tired and scared and orders were to fly in, evacuate and fly out, keeping everyone safe. operation h very good doctors onboard, Singh ded.

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two special flights returned to New Delhi carrying 647 Indians and 7 Maldivians on February 1 and 2 from Wuhan - a Chinese city of more than 11 million people which has been epicentre of new streak of dely coronavirus, named COVID-19 by WHO. Those evacuated from Wuhan were sent to quarantine facilities in Manesar and Chhawla managed by Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) respectively.

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(With inputs from ANI)