The first batch of home-bound Indians from Ukraine arrived in Mumbai by Air India's first evacuation flight from Romania's Bucharest today.  

As AIC 1944 touched down at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 7.50 Saturday evening, the 219 passengers, mostly students, were received by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

The second flight under 'Operation Ganga', also took off from the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest for Delhi late Saturday evening with 250 Indian nationals on board and will arrive in the capital early Sunday morning.

"Glad to see the smiles on the faces of Indians safely evacuated from Ukraine at the Mumbai airport," said Goyal as he asked the returning passengers to speak to their friends still in Ukraine and reassure them not to worry.

The minister said that the government is working in a mission mode to ensure safety of Indian citizens and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken with the Ukrainian President and stressed about the safety of Indian citizens. He said that the Russians too have promised to help evacuate all Indians. 

Welcome back to the motherland!

Glad to see the smiles on the faces of Indians safely evacuated from Ukraine at the Mumbai airport.

Govt. led by PM @NarendraModi ji is working relentlessly to ensure safety of every Indian. pic.twitter.com/fjuzjtNl9r

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 26, 2022

"Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had tweeted earlier in the day.

Large number of relatives of homebound passengers were present at the arrival concourse of the Mumbai airport to receive their near and dear ones.

Also Read: Air India plane lands in Bucharest to bring back Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine