In August 1990, when Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, an estimated 170,000 Indian nationals found themselves stranded amid chaos and conflict. Facing this humanitarian emergency, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India launched a massive evacuation between 13 August and 20 October 1990.

With direct flights from Kuwait blocked, evacuees were first bused across Iraq into Amman (Jordan) and then flown back by Air India and other carriers.
Over nearly 60 days, around 488-500 flights moved Indians home, earning Air India a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest civilian evacuation via air.

The operation remains a landmark in India’s diplomatic and logistical history—showcasing coordinated effort between ministries, airlines, and expatriate communities in a time of crisis.