AI Mumbai-Bucharest flight enroute; Indians in Ukraine asked to move to border only with 'prior coordination

NEW DELHI: An Air India flight left Mumbai for Bucharest (AI 1943) at 3.39 am Saturday and another flight is expected to leave Delhi for Romania before noon. Whether two more flights can operate Saturday remains to be seen as the situation on the ground is very fluid. The Indian embassy in Ukraine has on Saturday advised Indian nationals, mainly students, in Ukraine not to “move to any of the border posts without prior coordination” with the established government helplines at the border posts and in Kyiv.
“The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the embassy is working continuously with our embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens. Embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoints without prior Intimation,” the advisory said.
Indian citizens have been told that “staying in western cities of Ukraine with access of water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border check points without being fully abreast of the situation. All those currently in the Eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions… Avoid unnecessary movement… exercise caution at all times,” it said.
On Friday night, two AI — one each from Delhi and Mumbai — were ready to leave for Bucharest from 9 pm, whenever asked to do so. However, the waiting for nod to fly off meant that the crew hit their maximum flight duty limitation.