An Air India Delhi-Moscow flight was turned back after its pilot tested positive for coronavirus. According to a report in Times of India the test results of the pilot came after he took off to Moscow. The pilot turned back after he was informed mid-way into the flight. The flight was part of India's Vande Bharat mission, a repatriation exercise meant to help Indians stranded abroad during the coronavirus pandemic.
An oversight by the team checking pre-flight test reports of crew members had mistakenly read this captain’s positive report as negative. Meanwhile, as per govt protocols the crew will be quarantined as per norms. The entire plane will be sanitized and another airline will be sent on Moscow later on Saturday afternoon to fly back the stranded Indians. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal admitted that Delhi is witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases, but also assured the people that the government is fully prepared to deal with the outbreak. He added that we cannot be in a permanent lockdown.