Air India passengers who were left stranded in Russia land safe in CA
Hundreds of Air India passengers, including American citizens, who were left stranded in Russia after their plane was diverted due to engine issues land safely in San Francisco - 56 hours after first taking off
- The 216 passengers - including less than 50 Americans - and 16 crew members took off from Delhi around 4am local time on June 6
- It was diverted to Magadan, Russia, due to an engine issue and all 216 passengers and 16 crew members would be stranded there for more than a day
- The flight would leave Russia around 10.30am local time and land in San Francisco - its original destination - shortly after midnight local time
Hundreds of Air India[3] passengers, including some Americans, who were left stranded in Russia after their plane diverted have landed safely in San Francisco, ending a 56-hour ordeal.
The plane left India on June 6 and was traveling over Russia when pilots on the Air India flight 173 received an indication of low oil pressure in one engine, forcing them to land at a nearby airport in Magadan, Russia, Tuesday, the airline said.
The 216 passengers - including less than 50 Americans - and 16 crew were stranded for a day amid concerns of them being taken hostage over fears of Russia[4]'s relations with the West because of the Ukraine War.
While stranded in Russia, passengers were housed inside a makeshift accommodation at what appeared to be a school, where they slept on cots on the floor, while they waited for Air India's replacement flight from Mumbai[5] to arrive.
That led to complaints from some, though one passenger said Russian officials provided necessary care.
The 230 left stranded were able to board a new plane the next day and it left Russia around 10.30am local time and landed in San Francisco shortly after midnight local time on June 8.
The 216 passengers - including less than 50 Americans - and 16 crew members took off from Delhi around 4am local time on June 6 and was later diverted to Magadan, where passengers would stay for more than a day. The flight would then leave Russian around 10.30am local time on June 8 and land in San Francisco shortly after midnight local time on June 8
One unidentified passenger (pictured) said they were well taken care of, saying: 'They have cooked food for 200 people three times in a day. So we're good. We got coffee, we got warm milk, we got eggs. So everybody is safe.'
However, others complained of the 'bitter cold' and poor accommodations
Air India admitted in a letter to customers the accommodations 'may not have met the standard' it aims to provide its customers, but due to the location, it was unable to provide hotel rooms.
'We will fully refund the fare for your journey and, in addition, provide you a voucher for future travel on Air India,' the airline told passengers, according to Mint[6].
Angry passengers complained Wednesday about inadequate food at their accommodation, which they said looked like a school.
Girvaan Singh Kahma, a passenger, said 'none of us' were used to Russia's cold climate, saying it was 'bitter cold for all of us' while they were stranded.
'There are toddlers,' he told ABC 7[7]. 'There are elderly people who need medicine, toddlers who need diapers which are not provided to them right now.'
Chhaya Agarwal told the outlet her parents were 'sleeping on the floor on a mattress' and had been 'given bottles of water.'
'Luckily, my parents had the presence of mind to carry their medications in their handbags,' she said.
However, one unidentified passenger told ABC 7 they were well taken care of, saying: 'They have cooked food for 200 people three times in a day. So we're good. We got coffee, we got warm milk, we got eggs. So everybody is safe.'
Many were worried about Russia's no fly zone and fears began to spread that some passengers would be held hostage[8] from flying back to the US.
Air India will be refunding all passengers for their trip
It comes amid a global debate over the use of Russian airspace by some carriers, with the chief of United Airlines warning on Monday of the dangers of a plane being forced to land in Russia with American citizens on board.
Russia has barred US airlines and other foreign carriers from using its airspace in retaliation for Washington banning Russian flights over the United States in March 2022 after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.
However, senior pilots for the airline defended its choice to land in Russia, saying: 'We have designated alternate airports across the route that that an aircraft takes. The Russia route is the shortest way between India and North America. Taking this route in no way compromises safety,' according to the Times of India[9].
The diversion also raises questions over how quickly the $200million Boeing 777, a high-profile US-built plane whose engines are made by General Electric, can be repaired amid US and European Union sanctions on exports of aviation items to Russia.
References
- ^ Alyssa Guzman For Dailymail.Com (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Reuters (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ India (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Russia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Mumbai (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Mint (www.livemint.com)
- ^ ABC 7 (abc7news.com)
- ^ fly zone and fears began to spread that some passengers would be held hostage (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Times of India (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)