AI emergency landing: India thankful for Pakistan's goodwill gestures

New Delhi, July 9 (ANI): The emergency landing of the New Delhi-bound Air India flight Airbus A 319 with 130 on board in Pakistan, early on Monday morning might have caused serious consternation across the nation, but the crisis brought along fresh hope and optimism for better bilateral relations between the two neighbours.

The Pakistan authorities, in a slew of unprecedented goodwill gestures, issued fast clearances, besides offering water and snacks to the stranded passengers.

Pakistan's Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik even offered one-day transit visa to the passengers, while the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) paid for refueling of the aircraft.

Acknowledging the goodwill gestures shown by Pakistan, Special Secretary MEA Ashok Tomar, said that the passengers were well treated by Pakistani authorities.

"They had to get the equipment necessary for getting the problem sorted out. So engineers had to be put together also, baggage is about to come within 10-15 minutes, Pakistani authorities were very positive and helpful, our High Commission was in touch with them the response was very positive and helpful," Tomar told ANI.

The Air India plane landed at an airport in Pakistan's Nawab Shah area in the Sindh province early this morning after all three hydraulic systems of the carrier failed. (ANI)