Media Release
Mangaluru, Jun 18: The first ever chartered flight from Kuwait landed at Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday June 17.
United Karnataka Associations of Kuwait in association with Akbar Travels Kuwait successfully operated the flight with 165 passengers, giving distressed Kannadigas the opportunity to travel back home. It is really a dream come true for the distressed Kannadigas from Coastal Karnataka.
The Jazeera Airways charter flight took off around 10:40 am from Kuwait International Airport Terminal no.5 and to arrive at Mangaluru airport at 5:05 pm.
Flight at Mangaluru airport
Kuwait airport
Earlier, all the association leaders and Akbar Travels team wished all passengers a safe and pleasant journey back home. They said that this mission would not have possible without the support of Karnataka state government, government of India, government of the State of Kuwait, Indian Embassy in Kuwait, deputy commissioner’s office in Mangaluru, entire Team Jazeera and all the associations who collaborated and worked hard together to make this operation a successful.
From the time Indian government announced Vande Bharath Mission, all Karnataka associations came together under one banner ‘United Karnataka Associations of Kuwait’. They contacted all possible contacts in central and state governments with the request to take back distressed people of Karnataka. Many of them had serious medical condition and needed urgent attention, some have lost jobs and without any money from last 3 to 4 months, and few pregnant ladies. With all the hardships in front of their eyes, they worked tirelessly with the hope of flying needy Kannadigas back home safely.
The associations have expressed their sincere gratitude and special thanks to regional manager of Akbar Travels Shaikh Abdulla & team, Ramesh S Bhandary (Tulu Koota Kuwait) for taking the lead, Stevan Rego (KCWA), Rajesh Vittal (Kannada Koota), Guruprasad Hegde (BSK) and senior management of Jazeera Airways, Sindhu B Rupesh, deputy commissioner (DC) of Dakshian Kannada, Dr Yatish Ullal from DC office and Manish from quarantine department in Mangaluru for their outstanding support.
They said that they are also thankful to S M Azar (KKMA), Krishna Poojari (Billav Sanga), Abdul Nasser Khan (KMWA), Jaffar Sadik (IMA), Raj Bhandary (BPP), Rajesh Mendon (MAK), and Dr Surendra Nayak (GSB) for their direct or indirect support.