Pak hospitality leaves Indians awestruck
NEW DELHI: The relief aircraft which travelled to Nawabshah airport in Sindh, Pakistan was supposed to refuel itself for the return journey as well as the stranded plane. But in their haste, Indian officials forgot to carry something called the 'Shell' card with which they would have paid for the fuel.
Pakistan came to the rescue. PIA officials spoke to DGCA and Air India here and it was PIA that forked out the cost of the fuel that was needed for both planes. "They did everything," said an Indian official. "We couldn't have asked for more."
The Air India plane AI-940 had landed in deserted Nawabshah airport around 3 am after emergency procedures were set in motion. Air India authorities instantly alerted the foreign office in New Delhi and the Indian high commission in Islamabad.
Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai spoke to Sharat Sabharwal, India's high commissioner in Islamabad, while senior officials here spoke to Salman Bashir, Pakistan's high commissioner-designate in Delhi. The foreign office in Islamabad was roused as well.
Indian officials involved in the rescue operation said the Pakistani system worked at lightning speed. The DGCA was given speedy flight clearances from Pakistani civil aviation authorities. Their interior ministry even offered to give all 126 passengers and six crew members interim visas for Pakistan if they needed to stay for an extra day while the plane was repaired.
After the passengers landed, MEA special secretary Ashok Tomar said, "I just want to say that the flight with the passengers has just landed as also the original flight AI-940 with the baggage is on its way back and should be landing soon. The aircraft and the passengers got good cooperation from the Pakistani authorities and we are happy this situation has ended now and passengers are back.
"Passengers were very well treated by the Pakistani authorities. They had to get the equipment necessary for getting the problem sorted out, so the engineers had to go and put things together. Pakistani authorities were very positive and helpful."
Pakistani hospitality was extended to all the passengers who were given food and water at the airport. For Indian officials, the credit for the ease with which the rescue operation went off was attributable to the Pakistani side.
NEW DELHI: The relief aircraft which travelled to Nawabshah airport in Sindh, Pakistan was supposed to refuel itself for the return journey as well as the stranded plane. But in their haste, Indian officials forgot to carry something called the 'Shell' card with which they would have paid for the fuel.
Pakistan came to the rescue. PIA officials spoke to DGCA and Air India here and it was PIA that forked out the cost of the fuel that was needed for both planes. "They did everything," said an Indian official. "We couldn't have asked for more."
The Air India plane AI-940 had landed in deserted Nawabshah airport around 3 am after emergency procedures were set in motion. Air India authorities instantly alerted the foreign office in New Delhi and the Indian high commission in Islamabad.
Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai spoke to Sharat Sabharwal, India's high commissioner in Islamabad, while senior officials here spoke to Salman Bashir, Pakistan's high commissioner-designate in Delhi. The foreign office in Islamabad was roused as well.
Indian officials involved in the rescue operation said the Pakistani system worked at lightning speed. The DGCA was given speedy flight clearances from Pakistani civil aviation authorities. Their interior ministry even offered to give all 126 passengers and six crew members interim visas for Pakistan if they needed to stay for an extra day while the plane was repaired.
After the passengers landed, MEA special secretary Ashok Tomar said, "I just want to say that the flight with the passengers has just landed as also the original flight AI-940 with the baggage is on its way back and should be landing soon. The aircraft and the passengers got good cooperation from the Pakistani authorities and we are happy this situation has ended now and passengers are back.
"Passengers were very well treated by the Pakistani authorities. They had to get the equipment necessary for getting the problem sorted out, so the engineers had to go and put things together. Pakistani authorities were very positive and helpful."
Pakistani hospitality was extended to all the passengers who were given food and water at the airport. For Indian officials, the credit for the ease with which the rescue operation went off was attributable to the Pakistani side.
