Crew held hostage, airlines cancel flights

Three international flights, Lufthansa, North-West and Air France, had to be cancelled because their crew were stuck in Hotel Taj and Hotel Trident. They were rescued on Friday.

On November 27, the 3.25am Mumbai-Frankfurt Lufthansa airlines flight LH 757 was cancelled. “The crew that were to take the flight to Frankfurt was held up as hostages in Hotel Trident where they stay officially,” said an airline source from Mumbai airport.

But by Thursday evening the 27 crew members were rescued by the armed forces and taken to the international airport in Sahar. “One of them was slightly injured. The airline had sent a special aircraft to take them back. But they could not go as their passports and other documents were at the hotel.”

The 2.40am Air France Mumbai-Paris flight AF 135 was cancelled as 15 crew members were in Hotel Taj. “The flight will leave on Friday morning along with the passengers of Thursday and Friday,” said an official from the airline’s counter.