Flight carrying 290 students lands in New Delhi as Iran opens airspace for Operation Sindhu

Evacuated 290 Indian nationals from Iran (Image: MEA/ 'X')

A flight carrying 290 students has landed in New Delhi after Iran opened its airspace for their evacuation under India’s Operation Sindhu. In a special gesture, Iran made an exception for Indian students stranded amid the conflict in West Asia and is working in coordination with India to ensure their safe return.

The flight from Mashhad, Iran, carrying Indian students primarily from Jammu and Kashmir, safely landed at Delhi airport on June 20.

This particular flight, an Iranian airline charter arranged in coordination with Indian authorities, landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport around 11:30 pm IST.

#WATCH | #OperationSindhu | Delhi: Indian Nationals evacuated from Iran express their happiness on their safe return to India. They raise slogans of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', and some even got emotional. pic.twitter.com/pstJLD4F6A

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2025

Its successful arrival brought great relief to the students and their concerned families, who had been stranded amid escalating security tensions in Iran following recent large-scale aerial bombings and retaliatory missile strikes between Iran and Israel.

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said in a statement, “Heartfelt thanks to the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, and all concerned authorities for their timely intervention and support. A great relief for families who had been anxiously awaiting their return.”