Amsterdam-Delhi KLM flight turned back midair amid COVID-19 chaos

March 21, 2020 17:33

A KLM flight from Amsterdam to New Delhi was turned around midair, an official and a passenger said after apparent confusion about India's coronavirus regulations.

Because of the pandemic, India has imposed a bar on flights from Europe and from Sunday a one-week complete ban on all incoming international commercial flights comes into force.

Passengers on the KLM flight, which had been due to arrive in Delhi early on Saturday, included a pregnant woman who needed medical treatment on returning to Amsterdam.

The aircraft was told late on Friday "to return to its point of departure due to operational reasons while it was still airborne", the official said.

"Delhi does not have permission to land (planes) so we don't know why KLM decided to fly out from Amsterdam despite a clear advisory from the Indian government," said the official.

One of the 120 or so passengers, also speaking anonymously, said the announcement that they were going back was made over Russia around four hours into the flight.

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