Air India Embarks on Rescue Mission to Russia, Aims to Safely Repatriate Stranded Passengers In a commendable effort, Air India has initiated a ferry flight to the remote town of Magadan in Russia to rescue 216 passengers who have been stranded since Tuesday evening. The predicament arose when a San Francisco-bound flight was compelled to make an emergency landing due to a technical fault in one of its engines. Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has confirmed the development and assured the safe transportation of the stranded passengers and 16 crew members from Magadan to San Francisco.
The ferry flight, which departed from Mumbai at approximately 3:30 pm on Wednesday, is expected to reach Sokol airport in Magadan around midnight. Air India has dispatched a team onboard the flight to provide necessary support to the passengers and staff at Magadan. The ferry flight is equipped with essential supplies and ample food provisions to cater to all passengers during the onward journey from Magadan to San Francisco, scheduled for June 8, 2023, as stated by the airline.
The unfortunate incident unfolded on Tuesday when flight AI 173 departed from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport at 4:20 am with a scheduled arrival time in San Francisco at 7 pm (IST). However, the aircraft encountered a technical snag in one of its engines and was compelled to land at Sokol airport at 1:30 pm. Assuring the safety of the stranded passengers, Minister Scindia stated, “We have a Boeing 777-200 that took off today… the flying time is around six-and-a-half hours. It will land there and take on board all passengers and fly to San Francisco safely.”
Since Air India does not have any staff stationed in Magadan or Russia, it sought the assistance of Rossiya Airlines, one of the oldest and largest air carriers in the Russian Federation. The stranded passengers were relocated to a nearby school in the vicinity of the airport. As per Aleksey Siorpas, the transport minister of the Magadan region, women with children or pregnant women were provided accommodation in the dormitory of a medical college in the city, according to Russia’s state-owned news agency Sputnik. The United States is also closely monitoring the situation, considering the possibility of American citizens among the stranded passengers.
Air India’s Rescue Mission: Stranded Passengers in Russia Await Safe Repatriation
“We are aware of a US-bound flight that had to make an emergency landing in Russia and are continuing to monitor that situation closely. I’m not able to confirm how many US citizens were aboard the flight at this time,” stated Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the US State Department. He further added, “It was a flight that was bound for the US. So, it is, of course, likely that there are American citizens on board.”
Despite the challenging circumstances, the stranded passengers expressed concerns about the lack of amenities. However, Air India officials have assured that all possible support is being provided to the passengers through continuous coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Consulate General of India in Vladivostok, and Russian authorities. The airline has even set up a hotline to address any queries related to the matter.
“While passengers have complained of inconvenience, one must understand that the aircraft had to land in rural Siberia due to an emergency. The pilot had to fly two hours away from his route to ensure that he landed at a safe place,” explained an Air India official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Another official emphasized the limited infrastructure at Sokol airport, which sees an annual footfall of 400,000, in contrast to Delhi airport’s daily footfall of 200,000. Consequently, the airline had to make arrangements in the hall of a school, as there are no five-star hotels in Magadan.
The collective efforts of Air India, along with the cooperation of Russian authorities, exemplify their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the stranded passengers. The rescue mission holds the promise of reuniting the passengers with their intended destination, bringing an end to their unforeseen ordeal.
