SAA crew to be evacuated

2008-11-28 09:46

Johannesburg - South African Airways returned to South Africa from Mumbai on Friday with 141 passengers, including five of 12 stranded crew members, the airline said.

The flight landed in Mumbai at 23:30 Mumbai time and the aircraft returned immediately with the passengers.

SAA was in regular contact with the remaining seven crew members in the Oberoi Hotel and alternative travel arrangements are being made for them.

South African consul general in Mumbai Vusi Khuzwayo told Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma that they were in a holding room and were about to be evacuated.

Dlamini-Zuma's spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said she had spoken to them on Thursday evening to "convey the thoughts and prayers" of President Kgalema Motlanthe, the government and people of South Africa.

They were assured that everything was being done to secure their release.

"The crew indicated that despite their ordeal they remain in good health and expressed their gratitude to Dlamini-Zuma for the support they have so far received from the diplomatic corps and consular officials in Mumbai," he said.

Flights to continue

SAA's flight to Mumbai on Saturday would go ahead but the airline was assessing the situation in Mumbai and at this stage, the scheduled flight to Mumbai tomorrow [Saturday] would operate normally.

For passengers who were currently in Mumbai and holding valid SAA tickets, the airline would continue to endorse all tickets for travel on other airlines until further notice, it said.

Armed militants seized the Oberoi Hotel this week in a surprise attack.

- SAPA