India likely to send a military transport aircraft to the coronavirus-hit Wuhan on February 26 to deliver relief material and bring back more Indians following a clearance from China, Union Health ministry officials said on Monday.
“As informed by the Ministry of External Affairs, departure of the Air Force flight to Wuhan is being planned for February 26 and the evacuees will arrive on February 27,” the ministry said in a statement.
Earlier, official sources had said that the neighbouring country was delaying clearance to the C-17 military transport aircraft which was to fly on February 20 to Wuhan, though Beijing had allowed fights from other countries to evacuate their nationals.
According to a health ministry official, China has now given clearance to the Indian military transport aircraft.
Official sources said Japan, Ukraine and France have been allowed to operate flights between February 16 and 20 but India’s request had not been approved.
