The real ‘airlift’: How AI’s operation created a Guinness record | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

The real ‘airlift’: How AI’s operation created a Guinness record

IANS | By, Mumbai
Feb 02, 2016 07:54 PM IST

While a debate rages on about the veracity of events depicted in new Bollywood movie ‘Airlift’ on India’s massive evacuation efforts in war-ravaged Kuwait, a former Air India official said it was carried out with ‘clock-work precision’ and made it to the Guinness World Records.

While a debate rages on about the veracity of events depicted in new Bollywood movie ‘Airlift’ on India’s massive evacuation efforts in war-ravaged Kuwait, a former Air India official said it was carried out with ‘clock-work precision’ and made it to the Guinness World Records.

More than 1,70,000 Indians were stranded in Kuwait at that time and AI operated some 488 flights to evacuate them from Amman to Mumbai, a distance of more than 4,000 km.(HT File Photo)
More than 1,70,000 Indians were stranded in Kuwait at that time and AI operated some 488 flights to evacuate them from Amman to Mumbai, a distance of more than 4,000 km.(HT File Photo)

“The film ‘Airlift’ has brought the evacuation of over 117,000 Indians residing in Kuwait once again on the centre stage after 25 years. How did the feat get listed as a record in the Guinness Book makes for an interesting reading,” said former Air India (AI) executive director Jitender Bhargava in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Bhargava said as head of AI’s Public Relations, he would issue daily media statements about the number of flights that were operated in the past 24 hours, the number of stranded passengers safety brought from Amman in Jordan to various Indian cities, the next day’s plans of flight operations, etc.

“Since it wasn’t the era of Google which enables one to source information easily, I walked from my office in Air India building to the book store in Eros Cinema complex near Churchgate in Mumbai, picked up a copy of the Guinness Book of World Records to access the address of the editor/publisher of Guinness book,” he recalled.

Armed with that, he posted (the world didn’t know e-mails then) a letter to the Guinness editor enquiring if any record of evacuation by a civil airliner existed.

A fortnight later, Guinness editor replied through a letter that it did not have a record in their books, Bhargava said.

Meanwhile, the evacuation continued briskly with AI deploying as many aircraft as possible and even the now-merged entity, the domestic carrier Indian Airlines, and Indian Air Force extending a helping hand with their aircraft to bolster capacity to meet the growing demand.

“After the evacuation operation was completed, I sent a comprehensive letter to Guinness providing details of total number of passengers carried, flights operated, duration of the entire exercise, etc. Guinness accepted the record and duly intimated us through a letter,” Bhargava said.

Then, there was a long waiting period and it was only after a few months that the new edition of the Guinness Book of World Records was published with Air India’s achievements duly listed.

“I once again walked to the same book store from where I had sourced the Guinness address to buy a copy of the book for our company’s archives,” Bhargava recalls with a smile.

AI’s achievement is still a part of historical records, a feat performed between August 13-October 11, 1990.

More than 1,70,000 Indians were stranded in Kuwait at that time and AI operated some 488 flights to evacuate them from Amman to Mumbai, a distance of more than 4,000 km.

The massive operation was conducted during the Persian Gulf War and helped evacuate Indians living in Kuwait and Iraq.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On