In what could be the commencement of one of the biggest air evacuation missions by any country, the first Air India Express flight carrying 177 passengers from Abu Dhabi landed here.
The flight took off for Abu Dhabi from here earlier in theday to bring back Indians stranded in the Gulf countries due to the Covid-19induced lockdown.
The Kochi airport has been under tight security since themorning and a mock drill was conducted in the afternoon to ensure thateverything was in place as per the health protocols keeping in view theCovid-19 situation.
As many as 2,000 plastic chairs have been put up at theairport premises and more than a dozen counters have been opened.
All incoming baggage will be disinfected, before handingthem over to the people.
Among those who have landed are 49 pregnant ladies and fourkids. According to the protocol, all pregnant ladies and kids will be sent totheir homes where they will be quarantined for 14 days. Those with underlyinghealth issues will be moved to the hospitals for further treatment.Theremaining will be moved to the corona care centres in their respectivedistricts while anyone showing any Covid like symptoms would be taken todedicated coronavirus hospitals here.