About 180 overseas Chinese students studying in the United Kingdom will return to China via a special China Eastern Airlines flight on Friday as part of the government's measures to ensure the safety of its citizens in countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Boeing B777-300ER aircraft departed Shanghai on Thursday morning and arrived at London's Heathrow Airport later the same day. The students are scheduled to arrive in Ji'nan of Shandong province at 10 am on Friday, according to the Shanghai-based carrier.

Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman with the Foreign Ministry, said during a daily news briefing on Wednesday that the flight was made possible through a joint effort by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Civil Aviation Administration of China and other departments.

The reason for arranging such a flight was the mass cancellations of international flights due to the pandemic which has left many Chinese students stranded abroad.

China Eastern said that the special flight is manned by an experienced crew comprising four captains, four co-pilots and 14 flight attendants.