The first special flight under ‘Operation Ajay’, which will bring back Indians who wish to return home amid the brazen attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group, is prepared for any situation en route to Tel Aviv from Delhi and will be carrying engineers and an additional number of pilots.
According to sources, this is an Air India flight but the airline refused to comment on the matter when asked.
The first batch of Indians is expected to be brought back on Thursday. Shortly after external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s announcement, the Indian embassy in Israel said it has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the flight.
Sources said the flight to Tel Aviv will be carrying two sets of crew members — one set will operate the flight from Delhi to Israel and a different set will operate on the way back. There will be no layover for the crew and everyone on board will return. The flight will be carrying an additional number of pilots, technicians and engineers, they added.
Special flights under the mission will be operational till October 18 in the first phase following which a call will be taken depending on the number of Indian citizens still interested in returning, sources said.
India announced ‘Operation Ajay’ on Wednesday (October 11). External affairs minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Sri Lanka, announced the launch in a post on X. “Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return,” he said.
He added: “Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.”
Estimates show that around 18,000 Indians are residing in Israel. The ministry of external affairs has set up a round-the-clock control room in Delhi and separate emergency helplines in Tel Aviv and Ramallah to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine and provide information and assistance to Indian citizens.
The phone numbers of the control room in Delhi are 1800118797 (toll-free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905 and +919968291988, and the e-mail ID is [email protected].
The multi-pronged attacks against Israel since October 7 and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left around 2,150 people dead on both sides. Israeli authorities said more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed on their side while the Palestinian side put the death toll in Gaza at 950.
(With PTI inputs)
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