According to sources, they tested coronavirus positive when 77 pilots of the airline were tested on a priority basis on Saturday.

All the five pilots didn't have any symptoms and would be home quarantined in Mumbai, the people in the know said. These pilots operated Boeing 787 Dreamliners aircraft.

They were tested to be deployed for duty under the Vande Bharat Mission to ferry Indians stranded abroad.

The national carrier has also been engaged in transport of essential medical supplies amid the pandemic.

Starting May 7, Air India has been engaged in one of the largest rescue operations in the world, whereby 64 flights would bring back over 14,000 people stranded in 12 countries in 7 days.

Many Indians have already arrived in several cities under the Mission.