Coronavirus outbreak:With 5 doctors on board, Air India's B747 plane departs from Delhi to Wuhan

14:18 January 31

Air India's 423-seater jumbo B747 plane took off from the Delhi airport for Wuhan at around 1.20 pm on Friday to evacuate Indian nationals as China deals with the novel coronavirus outbreak.

"There are five doctors from the Health Ministry and one paramedical staff on board and around 400 Indians are expected to be evacuated," said a senior airline official

"The plane did a pushback towards the runway at around 12.50 pm. It took off at around 1.20 pm on Friday. The departure got delayed a little from 12.30 pm scheduled time because of some pending clearances," said a senior airline official.

The plane has one paramedical staff onboard, he said, adding that the plane is likely to return between 1 am to 2 am on Saturday. 

Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani said on Friday morning, "No service will take place in the plane. Whatever food is there will be kept in seat pockets. As there will be no service, there will be no interaction (between cabin crew and passengers)."

"Masks have been arranged for the crew and passengers. For our crew, we have also arranged a complete protective gear," he added.

"Total of five doctors from the Health Ministry is also going...The plane will be there (at Wuhan airport) for 2-3 hours," said Lohani.

The government has reached out to over 600 Indians living in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, to ascertain their willingness to be brought back to India. 

The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak on Friday climbed to 213 with the number of confirmed cases totalling to 9,692. Hubei province reported 5,806 confirmed cases, including 204 deaths. 

10:45 January 31

According to a senior DGCA official, Boeing 747 is all set to depart from Delhi at 12:30 PM. The aircraft came from Mumbai on Friday morning only. Delhi-Wuhan flight takes 6 hours to cover the distance.

Air India chief Ashwani Lohani said, "The national carrier once again comes to the rescue this time to evacuate Indians from Wuhan, the site of the outbreak of coronavirus. This mission begins today with a Jumbo 747 operating between Delhi and Wuhan."

Sources said Air India will evacuate around 325 Indian passengers from Wuhan and it will board only those passengers who do not show symptoms of the coronavirus infection.

"A 12- member crew including 2 doctors, 2 engineers, 4 loads and trim staff will be travelling with masks, gloves and disinfectant sprays and will not be got off the aircraft in Wuhan," said sources.

09:34 January 31

Coronavirus outbreak: Air India's B747 plane to depart from Delhi airport

New Delhi: Air India's 423-seater jumbo B747 plane will depart from Delhi airport at 12.30 pm on Friday to evacuate Indian nationals who are in China as the neighbouring country deals with novel Coronavirus outbreak.

"The B747 plane is all set to depart from Delhi at 12.30 pm. It came from Mumbai on Friday morning only," said a senior airline official. 

The government has reached out to over 600 Indians living in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, to ascertain their willingness to be brought back to India. 

The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak on Friday climbed to 213 with the number of confirmed cases totalling to 9,692. Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 5,806 confirmed cases, including 204 deaths.