Kochi, Jul 5 : The Air India special flight carrying 46 Kerala nurses, who were held captive in ISIS controlled areas in Iraq, was epected to land at the Nedumbassry International airport by around 1155 hours.
According to official sources, the flight took off at 0405 hrs from Erbil Airport and after a short stop over at Mumbai, the flight was expected to arrive here by 1155 hours.
The airport authorities have set up special emigration windows, customs clearence and medical facility for speedy clearance of the nurses, who had been in long travel under depression.
Once the flight lands at the airport, priority would be given for the flight for unloading the passengers and complete the formalities at the earliest, the sources said.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Health Minsiter V Sivakumar and Port Minsiter K Babu would be present at the airport to receive the nurses.
All the family members have already reached the airport to receive their wards, who were in deep trouble and mental agony during the last two weeks after they were being taken into custody by the ISIS militants in Iraq where a civil war was going on.
The family members, who were at the airport told the media, it was a great moment to them when they got phone calls from their daughters that they were safe and had boarded to the flight to return home, They said they were thankful to the almighty and the effeorts being taken by Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Kerala Chief Minister Ommen Chandy for the safely of their ward and bring them home.
The NORKA officals, told media that they had taken all measures to provide transport for the nurses to reach their homes and an immediate financial assistance of Rs 5000 each. (Agency)
