Anurag Kumar
Air India will send a replacement aircraft to transport 216 passengers and 16 crew members detained in Magadan, Russia, after their Delhi-San Francisco flight was forced to land due to a problem with one of its engines, the airline said.
Air India said in a statement released this morning that the replacement flight will depart from Mumbai’subject to necessary regulatory clearances’ on Wednesday afternoon and will transport food and other essentials for passengers.
Air India also stated that due to limited infrastructure at and around the airport in Magadan, which is on Russia’s eastern coast and over 10,000 km from Moscow’s capital, stranded passengers were moved to’makeshift accommodations after making sincere attempts to accommodate passengers in hotels locally…’
Due to the absence of Air India personnel in the remote town of Magadan or in Russia, all ground support provided to passengers in this unusual circumstance is of the highest quality imaginable. Air India said. The airline also stated that it is collaborating with the Consulate General of India in Vladivostok (approximately 4,900 kilometers from Magadan), the Russian authorities, and local officials.
Important Update regarding AI 173 Delhi to SFO pic.twitter.com/DibzwCoGU4
— Air India (@airindia) June 7, 2023
According to the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia, the aircraft will land early Thursday morning.
What did the Indian government say?
The minister of civil aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, is closely monitoring the situation, the ministry said this morning, adding that it is in constant contact with the airline. The ministry also reported that AI informed them that some passengers were lodged in a school near the airport.
What happened to Air India flight AI173?
The aircraft was a wide-body Boeing 777 that was obliged to land in Magadan due to a problem with one of its engines. Currently, the aircraft is undergoing safety inspections.
The details of the engine’s ‘technical issue’ have not been disclosed.
What did the US government say?
The spokesman for the State Department, Vedant Patel, stated that there were undoubtedly American citizens on the flight, but he could not confirm the exact number.
It was a flight bound for the United States, so it is plausible that there are American citizens on board… He stated that we are continuing to monitor the situation.
What do passengers say?
Girvaan Kaahma, age 16, was traveling with his uncle and sibling on the flight. The Associated Press reports that they and other passengers are prohibited from exiting the hostel where they are staying.
In addition, they cannot use their credit cards to purchase items from vending machines or stores due to American sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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In the meantime, videos and images shared on Twitter depict some passengers being compelled to sleep on mattresses on the floors of what appear to be homes or dormitories; one woman stated that her husband is one of the passengers.
It looks like they took them to a school like building and put mattresses on the floor for everyone.@airindia @IndEmbMoscow @IndEmbMoscowRus pic.twitter.com/VhNnWB2Qsg
— Shruthi Nambiar (@shruthinambiar) June 6, 2023
Another tweet included a 45-second video shared by another passenger, which showed people congregated in a small building resembling a school with benches and tables removed to accommodate mattresses on the floor.
Yesterday, @AirIndia flight 173 from Delhi to San Francisco was diverted to Magadan, in rural Russia w/ over 220, mostly elderly, passengers.
Sat in plane for 6 hrs & after 18 hrs now, no word from Air India, @MEAIndia.
Here is a just taken video from a jittery passenger : pic.twitter.com/n6qymnvXrc
— Tarun Shukla (@shukla_tarun) June 7, 2023
“Yesterday, Air India flight 173 from Delhi to San Francisco was diverted to Magadan, in rural Russia, with more than 220 passengers, the majority of whom were senior citizens. Sitting on an airplane for six hours with no word from Air India after eighteen hours. At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, a tweet stated, “Here is a video just taken by a jittery passenger.”
