At 5pm on Sunday, millions of Indians brought out their pots and pans and bells as a mark of gratitude towards doctors, nurses, cops and others who are leading the battle against coronavirus. Around the same time, Air India put out an SOS: ‘Please stop harassing our crew. They are serving the country too.’
The national carrier put out a statement complaining that several residents associations were targeting Air India crew, because they suspect them of possibly carrying the coronavirus. In some cases, neighbours have even called the police.
“It is alarming to note that in many localities, vigilante Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and neighbours have started ostracising the crew, obstructing them from performing their duty or even calling in the police, simply because the crew travelled abroad in the course of their duty,” the statement says.
Air India said that it has taken every precaution to ensure the safety of its crew and protect their well being for each and every fight they have undertaken to fly to cities affected with COVID-19 with all essential and non-essential measures to arrest the spread of coronavirus amongst crew and passengers. The crew is serving the country selflessly, like doctors and nurses and others out in the field, the airline says.
#FlyAI : We would like to appeal to all,particularly the law enforcement agencies,to ensure that AirIndia crew are treated with respect and freedom that every citizen deserves, especially those who have been discharging their duties in selfless manner for return of fellow Indians pic.twitter.com/Uthlk57jG3
— Air India (@airindiain) March 22, 2020
But “these vigilantes have conveniently forgotten that many a spouse, parent, sibling, child and near and dear ones were brought home safe and secure from coronavirus-hit countries thanks to the heroic efforts of Air India crew,” the airline says. “We would like to appeal to all, particularly the law enforcement agencies, to ensure that Air India crew are treated with respect and freedom that every citizen deserves, especially those who have been discharging their duties in a selfless manner for the return of fellow Indians.”
The statement comes less than 12 hours after Air India rescued 265 persons, mostly students, stranded in coronavirus-hit Italy. The special flight was the third such mission after Wuhan and Milan.
Surely, India’s flag carrier and its crew deserve better.
Source: https://www.cntraveller.in/story/air-india-crew-operated-coronavirus-rescue-flights-harassed-neighbours-covid-19/