Dubai: It is a flight of a lifetime for Deepak Menon, the chief of cabin crew on board the first repatriation flight that will carry stranded Indians from Abu Dhabi.
"I am really excited to be part of this historic mission. I have never done anything like this in my 13 years as a flight attendant," Menon told Khaleej Times over phone minutes before taking off from the Cochin International Airport on Thursday.
Commencing the world's largest ever repatriation operation, the first flight piloted by Captain Ansul Sharan and vice-captain Rizvin Nasar took off from Cochin at 12.30pm local time. The flight is expected to land in Abu Dhabi by 3.15pm and will again take to the skies with 177 passengers on board by around 4.15 pm, Air India Express officials confirmed. The flight is expected to land back in Kochi around 9.45pm.
The second flight will take off from Dubai International Airport at 5pm and will land in Kozhikode by 10.40pm on Thursday night.
"Everyone onboard is really excited. It is an honour for all of us," said Menon, clad in a PPE suit as protection from coronavirus while dealing with passengers.
"We are not worried or stressed. We underwent extensive training yesterday on all safety protocols including how to don and doff the PPE suit. We have also got detailed instructions on how to manage any emergency situation onboard the flight," said Menon, who is heading the four-member crew.
"Cabin crew would be wearing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) which include medical protective masks, medical rubber gloves, goggles / face shield, disposable medical caps, disposable protective clothing," an Air India official told Khaleej Times.
Ground staff at Cochin told Khaleej Times that the flight was disinfected hours before takeoff and all preparations went as per plan.
"There are masks, gloves and disinfectants ready for the passengers. We will also be giving them a snack box and a 500ml bottle of water," said the officer on duty.
07/05/20 Anjana Sankar/Khaleej Times
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"I am really excited to be part of this historic mission. I have never done anything like this in my 13 years as a flight attendant," Menon told Khaleej Times over phone minutes before taking off from the Cochin International Airport on Thursday.
Commencing the world's largest ever repatriation operation, the first flight piloted by Captain Ansul Sharan and vice-captain Rizvin Nasar took off from Cochin at 12.30pm local time. The flight is expected to land in Abu Dhabi by 3.15pm and will again take to the skies with 177 passengers on board by around 4.15 pm, Air India Express officials confirmed. The flight is expected to land back in Kochi around 9.45pm.
The second flight will take off from Dubai International Airport at 5pm and will land in Kozhikode by 10.40pm on Thursday night.
"Everyone onboard is really excited. It is an honour for all of us," said Menon, clad in a PPE suit as protection from coronavirus while dealing with passengers.
"We are not worried or stressed. We underwent extensive training yesterday on all safety protocols including how to don and doff the PPE suit. We have also got detailed instructions on how to manage any emergency situation onboard the flight," said Menon, who is heading the four-member crew.
"Cabin crew would be wearing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) which include medical protective masks, medical rubber gloves, goggles / face shield, disposable medical caps, disposable protective clothing," an Air India official told Khaleej Times.
Ground staff at Cochin told Khaleej Times that the flight was disinfected hours before takeoff and all preparations went as per plan.
"There are masks, gloves and disinfectants ready for the passengers. We will also be giving them a snack box and a 500ml bottle of water," said the officer on duty.
07/05/20 Anjana Sankar/Khaleej Times
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