New Delhi: Air India on Tuesday operated the first evacuation flight by an Indian carrier to bring home stranded passengers from Dubai amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Flight AI916D landed at Delhi Airport at 10:58 am IST, ferrying 149 passengers from Dubai. The aircraft, VT-EDC, was specially deployed as part of contingency operations activated in view of airspace disruptions and heightened security concerns across parts of the Gulf region.
Earlier in the morning, another special flight — AI918D — brought back 143 cockpit and cabin crew members of Air India and Air India Express who had been stranded in Dubai due to operational disruptions.
An Air India spokesperson said the airline’s Operations Control Centre and support teams worked round the clock under extraordinary circumstances to coordinate the movements. The special flights were mounted at short notice amid dynamic airspace restrictions and evolving advisories.
The airline expressed gratitude to the Government of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and local authorities in Dubai for facilitating the clearances required to operate the flights.
Aviation sources said the return of both passengers and crew was critical to stabilising flight schedules that had been affected by the ongoing regional crisis. Several international carriers have either rerouted flights or temporarily suspended services due to security concerns, leading to cascading delays and aircraft positioning challenges.
Air India said it remains in close coordination with Dubai Airports and relevant authorities to operate additional flights as soon as conditions permit. “The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” the spokesperson added.
The Middle East situation has disrupted travel plans for thousands of Indian nationals, particularly those transiting through major Gulf hubs such as Dubai. With India maintaining extensive air connectivity with the region, airlines are closely monitoring advisories while preparing contingency plans for further evacuations if required.
