PM Modi hails Air India crew for courage, call of duty to fight coronavirus

The airline said that in many localities Air India crew members were facing ostracisation because they travelled abroad to evacuate Indians

Indian nationals after they were brought to India by Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from coronavirus-hit Iran at Hindan airport. File

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the crew of Air India which has been evacuating stranded people from coronavirus -hit countries, a day after the airline complained that some “vigilante” resident welfare associations and neighbours were ostracising its crew members who went abroad as part of their duty.

COVID-19 | Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India

The airline in a press release on Sunday said it was alarming that in many localities Air

India crew members were facing ostracisation because they travelled abroad to evacuate Indians.

“Extremely proud of this team of @airindiain, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India. #IndiaFightsCorona,” the prime minister tweeted.

He tagged a tweet from Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri who said, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” posting a photograph of the crew of Air India Boeing 777 led by Captain Swati Raval and Captain Raja Chauhan who airlifted 263 Indians, mostly students, stranded in Rome.