The Indian Air Force transported 900 oxygen cylinders from the United Kingdom to the Chennai airport via Cairo on Tuesday, airport sources said.
This is the first tranche of cylinders that have been gifted by the British Oxygen Company to the Indian Red Cross Society.
The cylinders, each holding about 46 litres, were airlifted in two C-17 Globemasters of the IAF.
While the first aircraft with 450 cylinders landed at 5.10 a.m., the next one with another 450 cylinders reached by around 12 p.m.
Non-stop journey
These aircraft were flown from Jamnagar Air Base on May 2 to Brize Norton in the United Kingdom for bringing life support equipment, according to a press release. The aircraft flew non-stop for 11 hours and 30 minutes to reach their destination.
“The first aircraft landed at 0200 local time and with a quick turnaround, flew back to Chennai with 35 tonnes of equipment, including 450 empty oxygen cylinders, for India. The aircraft landed at Chennai at 0500 on May 4,” the release said.
So far, 54 cryogenic containers and 900 oxygen cylinders from various locations around the globe, including Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, Frankfurt and the United Kingdom, have been airlifted by the Indian Air Force.
Inside the country, the IAF employed eight C-17, four IL-76, 10 C-130, 20 An-32 aircraft, Mi-17V5 and Chinook helicopters and carried 180 cryogenic oxygen containers, cylinders, oxygen plant equipment and other essential medicines.
