First aircraft to evacuate Indian citizens stranded in UAE leaves Kochi

The first Air India Express flightto the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evacuate Indians citizens stranded there due to the COVID-19 pandemic left here on Thursday.

The first flight for evacuating Indians, mostly Keralites, stranded in Abu Dhabi departed from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) at 12.30 pm on Thursday, official sources said here.

The flight is expected to reach Abu Dhabi airport at 3.15 pm.

The scheduled take off the flight from Abu Dhabi at 4. 15 pm.

It will return to Kochi carrying 177 adults and four infants, the sources told P T I.

The first evacuation flight from Abu Dhabi is expected to land at Cochin International Airport at 9.40 pm, the sources said.

Another Air India Express (AIE) flight to Dubai is scheduled from Kozhikode interantional airport at 1.20 pm.

The flight, carrying 177 passengers and five infants, is expected to take off from Dubai airport at 5 pm.

The flight is expected to land at Kozhikode airport at 10.30 pm on Thursday ...