Search operation underway for missing trio in Al Dakhiliyah
Muscat: The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) has launched a search operation in the Qarn Al Alam area of the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, following the loss of contact with a citizen and two Indian residents. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that RAFO are conducting the search.
The statement released by the MoD indicated that search efforts are currently ongoing, as they attempt to locate the missing individuals.
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Muscat Daily
2 days ago
- Muscat Daily
UK-bound Air India flight with 242 aboard crashes in western India
Ahmedabad – A London-bound Air India passenger flight carrying 242 people crashed Thursday shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in the western Indian state of Gujarat, local authorities said. The aircraft went down in a residential area of Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, after departing at 1.39 p.m. local time (0809GMT). Emergency services rushed to the scene, and fears of casualties remain high, though officials have not confirmed any numbers yet. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the aircraft was carrying 242 people, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew members. According to the DGCA, the aircraft issued a Mayday call to the air traffic control (ATC) shortly after takeoff but did not respond to further communications. Air India confirmed the crash, stating that Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, was involved in 'an incident' after departing Ahmedabad. Of 242 people aboard, the airliner said 169 were Indian nationals, plus 53 UK citizens, seven from Portugal and one was from Canada, in addition to two pilots and 10 cabin crew. The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry said it has established an Operational Control Room to coordinate all details. Massive rescue and relief operations are going on and authorities have deployed personnel to clear the debris, while the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has closed all its operations in the wake of the crash. Gatwick Airport officials said the aircraft had been scheduled to land in London at 6.25 pm local time (1825GMT). Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran expressed 'profound sorrow' over the crash. 'Our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families,' he said in a statement. 'We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and provide all necessary support and care.' Indian lawmaker Yusuf Pathan called the crash 'shocking' and offered prayers for the safety of those onboard. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the crash was 'devastating.' 'My thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time,' he said on X. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also 'deep sadness' over the plane crash. 'The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support,' Lammy said on X.
Observer
6 days ago
- Observer
UK and India discuss cooperation amidst Lammy's visit
NEW DELHI: Britain and India on Saturday discussed expanding their "counter-terrorism" collaboration following recent fighting between India and Pakistan, Britain's foreign minister said after meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. British foreign minister David Lammy is the highest-profile Western official to have visited both New Delhi and Islamabad since the South Asian neighbours agreed to a ceasefire last month after their worst fighting in nearly three decades. The latest tensions began in April after the killing of 26 men in Indian Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on "terrorists" backed by Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denied. India then attacked what it called "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan, leading to escalation from both sides until a May 10 ceasefire. "We want the situation to be maintained, but of course we recognise fragility, particularly in the backdrop of terrorism, terrorism designed to destabilise India," Lammy said in an interview at the residence of the British High Commissioner in New Delhi. "We are keen to continue to work with our Indian partners on counter-terrorism measures." He said he discussed the next steps with both Modi and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, but gave no specifics. Last year, India and Britain discussed combating the financing of terrorism, cooperation between law enforcement and judicial bodies; and information sharing. Lammy said he also discussed boosting trade between the world's fifth and sixth largest economies. The countries concluded talks for a free trade deal early last month. "I know that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is very much looking forward to coming to India very soon to sign the free trade agreement," Lammy said. "There is so much that our two nations can continue to do together." Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to the upcoming Group of Seven summit in a phone call, as the two sides look to mend ties after relations soured in the past two years. The leaders agreed to remain in contact and looked forward to meeting at the G7 summit later this month, a readout from Carney's office said. India is not a G7 member but can be invited as a guest to its annual gathering, which will be held this year in Kananaskis in the Canadian province of Alberta, from June 15 to 17. "Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister (Carney)... thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit," Modi said in a post on X. Modi also stated in his post on Friday that India and Canada would work together "with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests." Bilateral ties deteriorated after Canada accused India of involvement in a murder and of attempting to interfere in two recent elections. Canada expelled several top Indian diplomats and consular officials in October 2024 after linking them to the murder and alleged a broader effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada. New Delhi has denied the allegations and expelled the same number of Canadian diplomats in response. India is Canada's 10th largest trading partner and Canada is the biggest exporter of pulses, including lentils, to India. Carney, who is trying to diversify trade away from the United States, said it made sense for the G7 to invite India, since it had the fifth-largest economy in the world and was at the heart of a number of supply chains. "In addition, bilaterally, we have now agreed, importantly, to continued law enforcement dialogue, so there's been some progress on that, that recognises issues of accountability. I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context," he told reporters in Ottawa. — Reuters
Muscat Daily
03-06-2025
- Muscat Daily
Good news expected soon on India-Oman FTA: Minister
Muscat – India and Oman are close to finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with some 'good news' expected very soon regarding the signing of the deal, according to India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal. As reported by several Indian media outlets on Monday, Goyal stated that negotiations between India and Oman on the proposed free trade agreement are progressing towards a conclusion. The talks gained renewed momentum following Goyal's visit to Muscat in January this year. The negotiations for the agreement, officially known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), formally commenced in November 2023. 'I think you will see some good news very soon on the Oman FTA,' Goyal told reporters during his official visit to France, when asked whether the agreement could be concluded this year, according to PTI. Goyal was in France to hold discussions with French leaders and businesses aimed at enhancing trade and investment ties. He was also scheduled to attend a mini-ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday. Oman is India's third-largest export destination among the GCC countries. India already has a similar agreement in place with another GCC member, the United Arab Emirates, which came into effect in May 2022. India's key imports from Oman include petroleum products and urea, which together account for over 70% of total imports. Other significant imports from Oman comprise polymers of propylene and ethylene, petcoke, gypsum, chemicals, and iron and steel. Speaking about such FTAs, Goyal remarked that these agreements not only promote trade in goods and services, but also strengthen supply chains and instill confidence among businesses on both sides through stable policies and predictability, according to the PTI report. 'So, in a way, it's a big message when you conclude an FTA,' he added.
