NEW DELHI—Air India announced on Friday that a plane carrying essential supplies was en route to rescue passengers stranded in Russia following an emergency landing of the previous day’s flight bound for San Francisco.
The Air India flight, traveling from Delhi to San Francisco, made an emergency landing in Russia after the crew detected a potential issue in the cargo hold area. This incident marks the second time in just over a year that such an incident has occurred on this route.
In response, Air India stated that a team, including crew members and security personnel, was on board the ferry flight. Additionally, the airline established a dedicated hotline for individuals seeking to connect with the affected passengers.
Despite many carriers, including U.S. and EU airlines, avoiding Russian airspace due to the conflict in Ukraine, Air India continues to utilize the route, providing a time and cost advantage on flights bound for the U.S.
The Indian embassy in Russia confirmed that a team of officials and an interpreter had arrived at Krasnoyarsk airport to assist the stranded passengers.
The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 225 passengers and 19 flight crew members, safely landed in Siberia at Krasnoyarsk International Airport as a precautionary measure, as stated by the airline.
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Passengers were taken to hotels, and those stranded in the international departure area expressed frustration, as reported on social media.
Mayank Gupta, whose mother was a passenger, shared his disappointment on social media, mentioning that her medications and belongings were still on the aircraft.
Reports from passengers at the airport indicated challenges in accessing food and water, with some individuals seen sleeping on the airport floor.
The airport clarified that the emergency landing was triggered by an activated smoke detector.
Following the incident, Russia’s civil aviation agency, Rosaviatsiya, confirmed that the aircraft had parked without any signs of fire or smoke onboard.
Boeing and a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department referred inquiries regarding the incident to Air India.
Russia’s ban on foreign carriers in its airspace, in response to Western sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine, has reshaped air routes and impacted airlines worldwide. United Airlines, for instance, had to cancel several non-stop U.S.–India flights due to these restrictions.
In a similar event in June 2023, an Air India flight on the same route experienced technical issues, resulting in passengers being stranded until a rescue aircraft was dispatched by the airline.
