DHAKA: A special Air India flight with 137 people on board, including the 46 nurses freed by insurgents in Iraq, arrived in Kochi on Saturday morning at 11.57 am, spelling relief for the Indian government and families of the stranded Indians.

The plane reached Mumbai at 8.47am for refuelling and for loading food for the passengers.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that at one point of time, he had lost all hope as the plane did not get permission to land in Erbil because of heavy wind.

He thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for all efforts made to bring back the nurses to India, reports India Today. 

The flight includes the 46 Indian nurses from Kerala whose fate in strife-torn Iraq had kept the entire nation on tenterhooks for the past few days.

Reports said many nurses protested at the Erbil airport, saying they won't board the plane unless they are paid their four months' arrear salary.

Indian officials persuaded them, and they finally agreed.

All the 180 passengers, plus three crew members, are reported to be safe, the officials said.

Chandy will receive the nurses at the Kochi airport, where a special immigration desk has been set up.

The Air India flight took off earlier from Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan, after the nurses were freed by the insurgents following intense Indian diplomatic efforts.

BDST: 1322 HRS, JUN 05, 2014