It was flying from Delhi to San Francisco when it experienced a technical problem
Her aircraft Air India which was operating a flight from Delhi to San Francisco was forced to divert and land at an airport in the Russian Far East after presenting technical problem in one of its engines, the airline said.
The flight’s 216 passengers were offered ground support and will be provided with alternative options to reach their destinations as soon as possible, Air India said, adding that the aircraft was also carrying 16 crew members.
Russia’s air transport service said it was checking the technical condition of the plane after landing at Magadan airport and was ready to give the airline permission to land a spare plane if needed.
“At the moment the issue of the stay and accommodation of the passengers is resolved by the border, customs and regional authorities”, Rosaviatsia reported.
The airport in Magadan, a port city on the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in the Russian Far East, did not respond to a request for comment.
The diversion of the Boeing 777 comes a day after the head of the world’s largest airline expressed concerns about airline safety transiting Russian airspace with American citizens on board.
“What if an airline lands in Russia with prominent US citizens on board? It’s a potential crisis in the making”United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said yesterday Monday.
“I think we should resolve this before the crisis happens.”
Air India said it could not provide any details about the passengers.
Russia has banned US airlines and other foreign carriers from using its airspace in retaliation for Washington’s ban on Russian flights over the US in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, Air India and some Gulf-based, Chinese or African airlines still fly over Russia, shortening flight times and making their American rivals uncompetitive.
Reuters reported last week that Chinese airlines were avoiding transiting Russian airspace when operating four newly authorized flights to and from the United States.
The White House and GE, which makes the engines for Boeing 777s, had no immediate comment.
Source :Skai
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