British Airways has flown a special emergency aircraft with medical aid to India.

The airline supported by its sister company IAG Cargo flew 27 tonnes of medical aid, which landed in Delhi today at 0545 hours (local time).

The aircraft was loaded with more than a thousand items from the High Commission of India and charities including Khalsa Aid International and the largest Hindu temple outside of India, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in Neasden, London.

The load included hundreds of oxygen cylinders and shipments of oxygen concentrators, respirators, and blood oxygen saturation monitors.  British Airways is also donating care packages for families in need.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ chairman and CEO said:

“The British Airways family has been deeply affected by the terrible scenes in India of the deepening humanitarian crisis that has impacted the lives of many of our people.

“We are fortunate to be in a position to help transport aid and I am so proud of the volunteers from across the airline and IAG Cargo who have stepped up to make this happen.

We continue to stand with our friends in India as the country endures one of the worst crises it has ever known.”

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom works in partnership with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which is organising the UK’s humanitarian response.

Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee, said:

“The DEC brings together 14 leading UK aid charities to respond quickly and effectively to disasters, with the fantastic support of partners in the corporate sector, including British Airways.

We are hugely grateful to British Airways for springing into action to support our emergency appeals, enabling us to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to people in India and elsewhere across the world when disaster strikes.”

ba.com