Pakistan air traffic controller hails Air India for operating relief flights

India's national airlines -- Air India -- which is ferrying European and Canadian citizens stuck in India amid nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak, has garnered praise from Pakistan's Air Traffic Controller (ATC) while flying over the country.

On April 2, Air India sent two special flights from Mumbai with the foreigners en route to Frankfurt and Canada, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

As one of these planes entered Pakistan's airspace, the Pakistan ATC applauded the senior pilot for the airline's humanitarian effort in times of the global pandemic, which has grounded majority of airlines across the world.

"Assalamu Alaikum. This is Karachi Control welcoming Air India for relief flights," the senior pilot the Air India flight quoted the Pakistan ATC as saying.

"Confirm you are operating relief flights for Frankfurt," the ATC then asked, to which the Air India pilot replied: "Affirm".

"We are proud of you that in a pandemic situation you are operating flights, Good Luck!" the ATC in Karachi said.

"Thank you so much," the captain of the flight responded.

"It was a very proud moment for me as well as the entire Air India crew when we heard from Pakistan ATC praising our special flight operations to Europe," the senior pilot told the media on his return to Mumbai.

Also, the Air India flight's commander was not getting the next radar for the Iranian airspace, and informed this to the Pakistan ATC. Then the Pakistan ATC conveyed the Indian jet's position to Tehran and provided details of the two Air India special flights.