An Air India flight operating the Delhi to San Francisco route made a precautionary landing at Krasnoyarsk International Airport (KJA) in Russia after the cockpit crew detected a potential issue in the cargo hold area. Flight AI183 landed safely at KJA with all 225 passengers and 19 members of the flight crew on board. Air India confirmed that all passengers had been safely disembarked and taken to the terminal building for further assistance.
The airline is working with government agencies and regulatory authorities to arrange a ferry flight to KJA, aiming to ensure passengers can continue their journey to San Francisco as soon as possible. Air India stated they are providing necessary support to passengers, as they do not have their own staff at KJA, relying on third-party assistance.
“All of us at Air India are concerned about the passengers and staff and are making every effort possible to operate the ferry flight as soon as possible, and to ensure the health, safety, and security of all while they wait. We will share further updates as soon as they are available,” Air India added.
According to a report by Reuters, Russia’s civil aviation agency, Rosaviatsiya, announced on Telegram that the aircraft had safely parked after landing with no signs of fire or smoke onboard. This incident marks the second time in a month that an Air India flight on this route has experienced a technical issue requiring a landing in Russia. Last month in June, a San Francisco bound flight from Delhi was forced to land in Russia due to a technical glitch. Two days later, a replacement flight for the 232 passengers took off for San Francisco.
The harsh weather conditions in Siberia and limited resources posed challenges for the stranded Air India passengers, with issues related to food, accommodation, cleanliness, and the ability to use credit cards due to sanctions imposed on Russia. Despite the difficulties, passengers reported being well-treated by Russian authorities, police, and other officials. Many were accommodated in school buildings, college hostels, and other locations. (With inputs from Reuters)
