GEORGETOWN: One of the Malaysians caught in the Algerian hostage crisis, construction engineer K. Ravi, is finally back home with his family here.

He arrived at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas via flight MH1152 at 5.20pm Wednesday.

After commending the Federal Government for bringing him home safely, the 48-year-old then proceeded to enter his car without speaking to reporters.

Spotted in the welcoming party were his wife Doreen Michael Tajie, 45, and two children, sister K. Shanthi, 45, and several other family members.

After briefly hugging several of his family members, Ravi rushed out of the airport, evading both cameras and questions from the reporters present.

Ravi and two other Malaysians – Patrick Putrait Awang and Lau Seek Chiang – escaped from captivity after terrorists held them and hundreds of workers hostage at a gas exploration complex in In Amenas, near the Libyan border, on Jan 16.

Earlier, while waiting for Ravi’s arrival, his daughter R. Sharmilaah Deve, 18, expressed relief that her father was coming back safely.

“We were worried sick for the past few days, since news about the hostage crisis broke out,” she added.

Doreen, when contacted shortly after Ravi’s return, said the family had no plans yet to celebrate his return but were just happy that he had returned home safe.

– THE STAR