Mangalorean Michael Saldana Commands Air India's Vande Bharat Mission flight
Mangaluru: In what has come as a proud moment for Karavalians one of Captain-Flight Commander, Michael Saldana, of the Vande Bharat Mission's Air India flight is a Mangalorean, which, on the first day, brought back the Non-Residential Indians who were stranded abroad due to the corona-lockdown.
He was the commander of an Air India flight that carried 177 passengers from Dubai at 5:30 pm on May 7 and landed at Kallikote airport at 10:30 pm.
Meanwhile, pilot Sarfaraz of the flight that brought medical equipments from Singapore, is also a Mangalorian. Both of them are being widely praised on social networking sites.
Michael Saldana, a resident of Valencia in the city, is an alumni of Milagres and St .Aloysius College. He had also secured the first rank in RV Engineering College, Bengaluru. After completing engineering, he had joined Air India and is currently employed with the it.
Known for his wide range of aircraft flying skills, Michael has the ability to handle aircrats on tabletop airports like Mangalore, which is very complex.
Currently, he is working as a base manager in Mangaluru and is training 30 pilots under him. His grandfather, Colonel JW Soares had fought in World War II. Colonel JW Soares had also participated in the 1962 China War.
Speaking to 'Varthabharati', Michael Saldana reflected on why he decided to fly the aircraft as a part of the mission and asserted how he was feeling lucky and proud after successfully completing the task assigned to him of bringing the stranded Indians safely to India.
"It is a matter of pride to bring Indians back home, who are stranded abroad due to Corona. This is why I voluntarily agreed to airlift them. I have the satisfaction of bringing them safely. I am always ready to bring back people of the country," he said.
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Rahul Gandhi to attend friendly football match between Messi, Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad
Hyderabad (PTI): Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will attend the GOAT India Tour event featuring football legend Lionel Messi at the RGI Cricket Stadium here on Saturday evening, Telangana Congress sources said.
A friendly match will be played between the two teams -- Singareni RR9 and Aparna-Messi All Stars. These two teams will be playing a 15-20 minute friendly match and five minutes before the game, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, a football enthusiast and Messi will join and will dribble the ball together.
Rahul Gandhi will land here on a special flight at 4.30 PM and will proceed to Taj Falaknuma Palace Hotel where Messi will be staying.
After watching the game, Gandhi will leave for the national capital by 10.30 PM.
Elaborate security arrangements are being made for the event at the RGI Cricket stadium.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner Sudheer Babu said security would be provided with 3,000 personnel.
