Air India Passengers Going to USA, Stuck In Russia
Air India’s flight to San Francisco was diverted to Russia due to technical problems. Stranded passengers had a difficult time due to language barriers and substandard facilities.
On 5th June 2023 an Air India flight from Delhi to San Francisco developed a technical issue with one of its engines. The flight with 216 passengers and 16 crew was diverted and landed safely at Magadan airport in northeastern Russia. It is about 10,000 kms away from Russia’s capital Moscow.
The airlines had said that the passengers are being provided with all support and have been given accommodation in hotels. The aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks on the ground. The airline had also said that a replacement aircraft would be sent on 6th June to Russia's Magadan to fly out stranded passengers. However there was a delay in sending the aircraft.
However, videos and pictures shared by some passengers show that the passengers are being housed in dormitories because hotels in the area are unable to accommodate everyone. Stranded passengers, which included children and many elderly people, are having a difficult time due to language barriers, unfamiliar food, and substandard accommodation. Gagan, a passenger on the plane said, “There are over 230 people. Lots of children and older people. Our bags are still in the aircraft. We were sent on buses to different locations. Language is a barrier. The food here is very, very different. There's a lot of seafood and non-veg. Some people are just eating bread and soup. Older people running out of medicine," Despite the difficulties, Gagan said, "They (Russian authorities) have been nice. We have been lucky because we are in a college dorm. We just got Wi-Fi, so we have been able to be in touch with our families.” He added, "But some passengers were sent to a school. They have just moved the benches and people are lying on mattresses in the classroom. There are about 20 people in one room. I heard they couldn't arrange proper food. They were given Coke and bread.” There was an 88 year old man and a lady with 2 infant kids. I don’t know how they are managing. We are not allowed to go out. Journalist Tarun Shukla tweeted , “Passengers sat in the plane for 6 hrs & after 18 hrs now, no word from Air India,” He also shared the video taken by a passenger which showed passengers sleeping on mattresses on the floor in a school. No Indian embassy official has contacted them as well.
After the video and the appeal went viral, Air India, in a statement said that a flight will be en route from Mumbai soon to ferry the passengers to their original destination. The ferry flight would be carrying food and other essentials for our passengers.
Air India explained that all efforts to accommodate passengers went in vain due to infrastructure limitations and also said that they have no company staff in Magadan or even in Russia and this is the best they could do and they are in touch with the Indian embassy, ground staff etc. India’s Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was closely monitoring the situation and was in touch with the airline The US State Department too was keeping an eye on the situation. The flight was going to San Francisco and that is why it was likely that there were U.S. citizens on board the flight.
In an update Air India’s replacement aircraft reached Magadan and has already taken off to San Francisco.
