Indiaâs national air carrier, Air India has been monumental in several rescue missions historically and continues to do so amidst the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide. Its latest heroic feat though drew appreciation from the most unlikely quarters - Pakistanâs Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Air India recently operated two flights - a Boeing 777 and a 787 - to ferry European and Canadian citizens stuck in India amidst the lockdown to Frankfurt, Germany, along with relief materials from New Delhi and Mumbai. On its way to Frankfurt, when the flights entered the Pakistani airspace, the exchange between the Indian pilot and Pakistanâs ATC is something we all feel about the Airlineâs achievement.

"As we entered Pakistan's Flight Information Region (FIR) and the Pakistan Air Traffic Controller (ATC) greeted us 'Assalaam Alaikum! This is Karachi's control welcoming Air India for relief flights to Frankfurt,â" the senior captain of the relief flight told ANI in an exclusive interview.

Pakistanâs Air Traffic Control didnât just welcome the Air India flights into their airspace but they also took a moment to appreciate the efforts of the latter at a time when no kind gesture is too small and no person too big to help.

© Reuters

After Pakistan's ATC cleared the Air India flights through the countryâs Flight Information Region, they were quoted saying, "We are proud of you that in a pandemic situation you are operating flights, good luck!" "Thank you so much," the captain of the flight responded.

But that wasnât all. Pakistanâs ATC also helped the AI flights get clearance from the Iranian airspace by conveying the Indian jetsâ cor-ordinates and other details to the Tehran ATC. "For the first time in my entire career as a pilot, Iran gave a direct routing for about 1,000 miles, a privilege enjoyed as special flights, in all especially in the recent tense situation in the Iranian airspace," the AI captain told ANI.

The gesture has been drawing praises on Twitter as people are calling this a victory for humanity:

Before everything else we are humans , we need compassion , love , appreciation and togetherness. Borders , hatred , intolerance , inequality are all the constructs of insecure distrustful little souls.

â Stay Home Stay Safe (@battleofshire) April 5, 2020

Humanity never dies Sir.

â syedfasiuddin (@syedfas10002423) April 5, 2020

Awesome to hear that! Ofcourse humanity comes first and afterall we are all part of same motherland divided by politics!The common ppl there live n some of wrst conditions & hv zero rivlary with India. lyk here cuz f a grp of hatemongers,the undue hate exists. kudos! Thks 2 dm

â Sruthy Suresh (@Sru2890) April 5, 2020

Thanks Shashi and the captain of Air India for sharing love message. Let's defeated hate with love #SpreadTheLove #WorldFightsCorona #IndiaFightsCorona

â Ahmar Siddiqui (@ahmar_99) April 5, 2020

Air India will operate 18 more flights to ferry German, French, Irish and Canadian nationals stuck in India, as requested by their respective embassies. Besides this, the airlines will also bring in essential medical equipment to Delhi from Shanghai via cargo flights scheduled to run till April 9. While these unsung heroes continue to do their bit in fighting the pandemic, we request our readers to also contribute in saving the world in the easiest way possible - by staying home. 

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