Air India’s special flight with 219 Indians evacuated from Ukraine takes off from Romania [WATCH]

New Delhi: A special flight of Air India AI-1943 landed at Bucharest in Romania for the evacuation of stranded Indians in Ukraine on Saturday morning.

This is the first special flight that is traveling through another route after the air route to Ukraine was shut down. The 787 Dreamliner has the capacity to carry 250 passengers and it is expected that at least as many will be brought back to India.

In an effort to evacuate stranded Indian nationals from war-hit Ukraine, Air India will operate two flights from Delhi to Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary) on Saturday.

The government is expected to operate such flights to neighboring countries of Ukraine in order to evacuate stranded Indians in the country.

The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indians evacuated from Ukraine has taken off from Romania, says EAM Dr S Jaishankar

We are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I’m personally monitoring, he adds. pic.twitter.com/0OM21NDlah

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

“Based upon inputs from the Ministry of External Affairs on the emerging situation in Ukraine, Air India will operate two flights from Delhi to Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary) tomorrow, that is, February 26. Air India shall be operating VBM flights,” Air India informed.

A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations “to protect” the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia’s military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow.

Have a look at the video of the evacuation of Indian Nationals here: 

#WATCH | “…Entire GoI is working day & night to evacuate everyone and our mission is not complete till we have evacuated the last person. Remember this day 26th Feb in your life…,” Rahul Shrivastava, Indian Ambassador in Romania to the evacuated Indians from #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Ro4pBGrB76

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air India, to bring back Indian nationals safely.

In the coming days for Indian citizens, more flights are going to be operated from Ukraine (Kiev) amid tension in the country.