Washington, May 4

US Air Force flights that were scheduled to leave for India with essential life-saving supplies have been delayed till Wednesday due to maintenance issues, the Pentagon said here on Monday.

We just received word from USTRANSCOM that the flights for India are "delayed until at least Wednesday due to maintenance issues", a Pentagon spokesperson said. 

So far, only two US Air Force flights have landed in India.

Three US Air Force C-5 Super Galaxies and one C-17 Globemaster were scheduled to leave for India on Monday to deliver critical supplies amid a surge in coronavirus cases there.  

Officials, however, did not say how this would impact the emergency aid supplies to India, in particular life-saving oxygen cylinders and concentrators.

Earlier in the day, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters that the US would continue to fly its planes with health-care supplies for India, which has faced one of the worst outbreaks of Covid in the world.

Three US Air Force C-5 Super Galaxies and one C-17 Globemaster are continuing to deliver critical health-care supplies to India, which is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of Covid, the Pentagon said. 

“We continue to assist the government and the people of India as they continue to struggle with their Covid outbreak,” Kirby said.

US Transportation Command and its components continue to demonstrate their capability to provide immediate assistance to a partner nation, he said.

The United States would continue to assess the situation, he said. 

"We'll stay in touch with our counterparts in India, should there be a need for additional help. The (defence) secretary was very clear in speaking to his counterpart in India that we'll continue to do whatever we can to help,” Kirby said. PTI