‘Test after test’ but there is no stopping this Naga woman from flying

‘Don’t be judgemental but help each other in whichever way possible’

Thejoto Nienu
Kohima, May 25 (EMN): The government-owned airline, Air India, is being used by the central government for repatriation of stranded Indian citizens in foreign countries amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Eastern Mirror spoke to one of its airline staff to share her experience of facing unprecedented situations due to the ongoing pandemic.

Toshi Aren from Nagaland is chief of cabin crew at Air India and has completed 16 years in the profession. Based in Mumbai, she has been part of the mission to evacuate stranded persons from abroad and has flown thrice thus far.

With regard to recent report of pilots testing positive for Covid-19 in the early part of May, she maintained that subsequently a retest was conducted and they were found to be negative. She informed that “the testing kits were faulty because they’ve already come back from their flight, finished their quarantine and none were asymptomatic.” She added that the five pilots were undertaking flights now.

Aren stated that all those involved in the rescue flights have been asked by the central government to take three tests for each flight.

She added there is a pre-flight Covid-19 test, and if the result is negative, the person will be allowed to execute duty and on return, the person will be taken straight to a hotel arranged by the company. Swabs are then collected for testing which takes 24 to 36 hours.

“If we are cleared, we’re allowed to go home but if not, we’re taken to the hospital as per the guidelines issued by the government of India,” said Aren.

She maintained that after getting their second test, they are home quarantined and take the third test after five days, and if cleared, “we are given another flight assignment, so it’s a whole cycle we have to keep doing, test after test,” she added.

“It is a pandemic and it’s stressful even for us. Who would want to be on the frontline knowingly that there are chances of contracting the virus from people who might be carrying and who might not be showing symptoms,” she asserted.

However she stated: “It’s obvious to be stressed out but somebody has to go and bring back the stranded people, the citizens and we are a national carrier (Air India). When we joined the airline, we gave our commitment that we will do any duty that we are given and knowing that we will be sent to war zone and all crisis, knowingly we have joined this.”

“We are little wary but most of us are willingly going because it is our job,” she added.

Aren said it was stressful and uncomfortable to be around so many passengers, when they ‘don’t listen to instructions; that becomes a little difficult when they move around and don’t obey.’
She shared that they instruct and make them understand that they are putting a lot of people around at risk.

She shared her concern stating: “What if I tested positive? Although we keep sanitising our hands and belongings, unknowingly we might touch our faces when a strand of hair falls on the face, and our hand touches surfaces although with gloves, because we are just human beings.”

When asked about the response of people when they were rescued, she shared that many people were appreciative but some would ‘shout, scream and complain.’

“Our duty is just to bring back people from point A to point B and not on how much the ticket costs, what they’re given, what they’re given to eat for the flight but we’re just crew and we don’t have anything to do with that but some people are thankless, but that’s just human nature,” she shared. Yet she added that there are also a lot of people who appreciate them during this crisis.

She also shared her experience of a recent flight to evacuate stranded persons from Jakarta in Indonesia on May 22. When they reached Mumbai and were walking out of the airport, they were greeted with cheers from the passengers saying, “Thank you so much. You’re the best, you risked your life for us.”

Aren is currently at home in Mumbai waiting for her third test from the last flight (Jakarta) to carry on the next. She shared her happiness of being part of the evacuation missions from foreign lands.

During such times, she shared how the crew is uplifting each other despite apprehension that with every flight they take, one or the other colleague might test positive.
Being away from home for 16 years, she shared that she does miss home, especially during this pandemic when everyone wishes to be with their families and loved ones.
She urged the people of Nagaland ‘to encourage one another to strictly maintain social distancing and think of the frontline workers who are risking themselves everywhere for the safety of all’.
She also urged the people to be cautious and adapt to the new normal (lockdown), to stay at home, be more compassionate, understanding and not be judgemental but help each other in whichever way possible.