South African Airways (SAA) flight SA285, which departed Mumbai at approximately 1.30am Mumbai time this morning, landed safely back at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 6.40am this morning.

The flight, which departed OR Tambo International as SA284 at 12.15pm South African time on Thursday, 27 November, landed in Mumbai airport at about 11.30pm Mumbai time. A decision was made to turn the aircraft around without delay, and the aircraft departed Mumbai with a total of 141 passengers.

The passengers include five of the 12 SAA crew who were in Mumbai when the terrorist attacks started. SAA is in regular contact with the remaining seven crew members in the Oberoi Hotel. Alternative travel arrangements are being made for the crew members.

SAA is assessing the situation in Mumbai and at this stage, the scheduled flight to Mumbai tomorrow will operate normally. For passengers who are currently in Mumbai and holding valid SAA tickets, the airline will continue to endorse all tickets for travel on other airlines until further notice.