Operation Sindhu: 280 more Indians return from Iran via special flight

UPDATED: Jun 22, 2025 18:50 IST

A special flight under Operation Sindhu brought back over 280 Indian nationals from war-hit Iran on Sunday. The Mahan Air flight (W50071A) landed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi, carrying mostly students and pilgrims.

Among the passengers were more than 200 students from Jammu and Kashmir, along with several pilgrims who had travelled to Iran for Ziarat. Many of them held Indian flags as they stepped off the aircraft, expressing relief and gratitude for the safe return.

The evacuees praised the Government of India for acting quickly and organizing a smooth and well-coordinated rescue. Several returnees shared emotional stories about their time in Iran, where they lived in fear and uncertainty as the conflict intensified.

India launched Operation Sindhu on Wednesday to evacuate its citizens from Iran amid the rising tensions between Tehran and Israel. The situation escalated after Israel carried out military strikes inside Iran, leading to growing concern for Indians stuck in the conflict zone.

Two Mahan Air flights carrying 1,000 Indian students, including 500 Kashmiris, from Mashhad, Iran, landed in Delhi.