Indian pilot received appreciation from Pakistan Air Traffic Controller (ATC) for operating relief work during global pandemic coronavirus.
Pakistan Air Traffic Controller praised Indian pilot and crew for operating the relief work in a rare yet pleasant exchange when India’s national carrier contacted the Karachi’s ATC to access Pakistan’s airspace.
What does this heartwarming story tell us: Pakistanis don’t judge people on religion basis. They don’t hesitate to praise professionalism & are helpful. Would our ATC have gone so far in helping PIA flight? We need to ask ourselves! https://t.co/CdHa9Uloem
— Pravin Sawhney (@PravinSawhney) April 4, 2020
Air India was operating relief flight from India to Frankfurt with relief materials and evacuated European and Canadian nationals, who were stranded in India amid coronavirus lockdown. Pakistani operator responsibly escorted the Air India flight to Iran’s airspace. Meanwhile, the Air India crew left Pakistan with high spirits after receiving a humble appreciation.
Asian News International quoted an Air Indian pilot as saying that, “It was a very proud moment for me as well as the entire Air India crew when we heard Pakistan ATC praising our special flight operations to Europe.”
Read more: Coronavirus Outbreak: Should prisoners be released on humanitarian grounds?
“As we entered in Pakistan’s Flight Information Region, Pakistani ATC greeted us ‘Assalaam Alaikum! This is Karachi’s control welcoming Air India for relief flights to Frankfurt’,” the senior captain quoted the Pakistani air traffic controller as saying.
After information sharing between the Air India pilot and Air Traffic Controller, the Pakistani ATC operator reportedly said, “We are proud of you that in a pandemic situation you are operating flights, good luck.”
“Thank you so much”, responded the Indian pilot. Pakistani ATC operator even helped Air India connect to Iran’s airspace upon request. The Air India pilot informed Pakistani operator about distortion in connectivity with the next radar in Tehran.
https://twitter.com/ashoswai/status/1246512882671669250?s=20
Pakistani ATC conveyed the flight’s position to Tehran and provided details of two special flights of Air India.
Air India flight entered Iran easily with the help of Pakistan’s ATC.
Soon after the incident, India’s social media appreciated Pakistan for a humanitarian gesture.