Chartered flight with 175 passengers, nine infants to land in Mangaluru on Saturday

Mangaluru: The second chartered flight carrying 175 expats and nine infants from in and around Uttara Kannada district from Ras al Khaimah airport is expected to land at MIA in the wee hours of Saturday. The flight is chartered by NRI businessman Muniri Atiqurrehman, proprietor and chairman of Nuha General Trading Company, Dubai.
The SpiceJet 9085 RKT-IXE flight is expected to depart at Friday 10.35pm (UAE time) and reach Mangaluru International Airport around 3.55am.
Muniri, who also heads Bhatkal-based NGO Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, told over the phone that he was moved by the plight of several stranded people from Bhatkal and surrounding areas of Uttara Kannada district in Dubai. “After seeing their sufferings, I decided to arrange the chartered flight where passengers will only pay AED 1,050 (Rs 21,000) towards the journey. Rest of the arrangements like transport to RAK airport from various parts of UAE, food, transport to Uttara Kannada and as well quarantine facilities are taken care free of cost. We just hope to send helpless people here return home safe,” he told TOI.
All the passengers will board the flight at RAK airport after Covid-19 testing, he added.
Dr Arathi Krishna, former deputy chairperson, NRI Forum of Karnataka, who also played a vital role in getting necessary approval for the flight, said the state government had cancelled approval for the flight landing at the last minute and scheduled the same after 10 days. “After my intervention, DGCA, Consulate General of India, Dubai gave a green signal for the flight to depart on June 12. The sponsors would have been distressed if it was delayed for another 10 days,” she added
Chartered flight with 172 passengers lands
The Gulf Air GF-7272, flight from King Fahd International Airport, Dammam, Saudi Arabia to Mangaluru International Airport with 172 passengers landed late on Thursday. The flight was chartered by KS Sheikh Karnire, director of Expertise-Contracting Co Limited, Saudi Arabia. After the initial screening, all passengers were sent to quarantine centre arranged by the firm.