The evacuation of Indians from strife-torn Libya picked up pace with 1,045 nationals returning home and another 1,050 people headed back on board three Air India flights . The private air carriers also joined the exercise. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said India has chartered four flights from Egypt Air to start bringing back 1,188 Indians, who have been evacuated by a ship Scotia Prince from Libya to the Egyptian Black Sea resort of Alexandria, from today. She said that nearly 33 per cent of the estimated 18,000 Indians would be pulled out of Libya by today. External Affairs Ministry said that three special Air India flights – two Boeing 747s and one Airbus-330 – went to Tripoli yesterday and brought back 1045 Indian nationals and another three flights were headed back home, It said three daily flights to Tripoli shall continue over the coming days and may even be stepped up further. Private carriers Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines said they will be flying to Djerba in Tunisia and Alexandria in Egypt respectively to bring back the Indians following instruction from the government. Meanwhile, an IAF transport aircraft IL-76 has left New Delhi for Libya to airlift stranded Indians up to Cairo. The destination of the Air force Plane landing at Libya has not been disclosed for the reasons of safety of evacuees. Meanwhile, a second IL-76 is also in ready position of required. AIR correspondent reports that this Jumbo size transport aircraft is capable of carrying 400 passengers at a time.