Video plea works, over 600 seamen on way to Goa

Panaji: After their distress video seeking the government’s nod to return to India, over 600 Indian seafarers including 270 Goans aboard a Marella cruise in South Hampton are on their way home.
The seafarers will arrive on Monday on two flights to Goa and Mumbai, which have been chartered by the company.
While the flight to Goa will land early morning with 303 passengers including Goans and Maharashtrians, the second flight to Mumbai will land later the same day.
“Authorities immediately took action after our video went viral. We are relieved to be going home as we have been in the middle of the sea and haven’t seen land for almost three months now. We were fed up and stressed. Some crew members had medical emergencies and deaths in their families,” a Goan crew member told TOI.
After the charters arranged by their company got cancelled on two occasions in the past, the seafarers made a video while holding up the Indian flag and posters requesting the Indian government to permit the charters to land in India.
A total of 505 seafarers returned on special flights on Saturday and Sunday. A TUI flight from Belgium brought 225 seafarers who were stranded in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
“TUI Fly, the twelfth repatriation flight brought in 225 stranded seafarers from Amsterdam to Goa. The flight landed at 11.10pm on Saturday. Smooth arrival and exit was ensured while following all health and social distance protocols,” said Goa Airport director Gagan Malik.
He also said that there are plans for more repatriation flights to land at Goa in the coming days with a Vande Bharat flight expected from Dubai around June 20.
“Now that approvals are being given, the boys have been told to remain ready as the flights are leaving within a day,” said founder president of Goa Seamen Association of India Dixon Vaz.
Domestic flights could also increase in the coming days with IndiGo seeking permission to start flights to Kannur, Ahmedabad, Hubbali and Chennai.
Flights between Goa and Mumbai have yet to commence due to the lack of landing slots at Mumbai International airport. Goa airport has four slots for flights to Mumbai but they remain unutilised.