“Proud time to bring our people back home”: the first crew repatriation flight from India as part of Vande Bharat

It was on the night of May 5 that Anshul Sheoran, his co-pilot Rizvin Nasser and four cabin crew members received a call from Air India Express management, informing them of the Abu Dhabi-Kochi flight. (Source: Air India Express)

In his previous term as Deputy Commander of the Indian Coast Guard, Anshul Sheoran, originally from Rohtak in Haryana, has conducted various search and rescue missions, medical evacuations, and surveillance programs aboard the Dornier aircraft. In many ways, he said, such missions gave him exposure and confidence early in his career as an airman to deal with challenging circumstances.

One such circumstance occurred on Thursday when Sheoran, 31, successfully directed the Air India Express (AIE) flight from Abu Dhabi to Kochi, the first of many repatriation flights India is taking home to stranded Indians as part of the Vande Bharat mission. . Flight IX 452, carrying 181 passengers, including 45 pregnant women and four children, took off from Abu Dhabi Airport, landing safely at Kochi Airport in Nedumbassery at 10:17 pm local time, ahead of schedule. .

“It was a very proud moment to bring our people back home. Whatever mission or task is presented to us, we must be prepared to undertake it. The overall pace and morale of each individual involved in the mission was very high. It is a feeling of pride to be associated with such a large mission, “said Sheoran, who joined Air India Express in 2017.

In his 14-year aviator career, it was also the first time his Vishakhapatnam-based parents had seen him maneuver an airplane during take-off and landing.

“They were very happy to see me on television,” he added.

Sheoran, 31, successfully directed the Air India Express (AIE) flight from Abu Dhabi to Kochi, the first of many repatriation flights India is taking to bring stranded Indians home as part of the Vande Bharat mission. (Source: Air India Express)

It was on the afternoon of May 5 that Sheoran, his co-pilot Rizvin Nasser and four cabin crew members received a call from IEA management, informing them of the Abu Dhabi-Kochi flight. In the past two weeks, the airline had made painstaking efforts to coordinate its personnel and establish a strict SOP for pilots and cabin crew to stick to since the Center signaled its intentions to bring back the stranded Indians. Since the possibility of infection among passengers is not entirely ruled out, strict security protocols must be followed, especially among airline personnel.

To familiarize themselves with good infection control practices, Sheoran and her team received training sessions by a team of doctors from Ernakulam School of Medicine.

“They taught us about the correct ways to put on and take off PPE suits. They informed us of the gaps and the incorrect practices so that we did not make the same mistakes, “he said. Wearing the suits during the flight meant that the crew could not use the bathroom or eat food during that time.

“It was not comfortable. That challenge was there. But our airline has well-planned flight operations bulletins and SOPs. It is easy to use and safe. “

At Medical College, the airline’s crew also underwent RT-PCR tests for Covid, after authorization of which they were assigned to the flight.

Since the flight had a large number of pregnant women and people with medical illnesses compared to regular flights, on-board personnel had to be accurate and precise in decision-making regarding any health emergencies that might underpin. But luckily there was none.

The crew of India’s first repatriation flight as part of Vande Bharat. (Source: Air India Express)

Deepak Menon, cabin crew member in charge of the flight, said: “All passengers were very cooperative and followed all safety guidelines. We made repeated announcements that there must be limited movement within the aircraft. At the time of boarding, there were not many happy faces. I think they were tense. But after landing, seeing the smiles on their faces, we were satisfied. It is a very proud moment for us to participate in a mission like this. “

One of the things passengers would remember about Flight IX 452 on Thursday for years to come would be Captain Sheoran’s upbeat audio message from the flight deck before the journey began. The “we are going home” message telling passengers that India is eagerly awaiting their return is going viral.

“It is a great day for everyone, especially for those who return. Their families have been concerned during the confinement. I felt that I should interact with them. The whole plane should have a lot of morale,” he said.

By the way, it is the second time that Captain Sheoran has heard his own voice. “Before this, I had heard my voice when I became a Captain. So I asked my colleague to record it. It’s good to hear my own voice. “

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