Stranded Air India passengers forced to sleep on school floor in Magadan, Russia: video

Video footage has surfaced on Twitter showing stranded Air India passengers forced to sleep on the floor of a school after their flight was diverted to Magadan in Siberia, Russia. 

After their flight was diverted to Magadan in Siberia, Russia, video footage of stranded Air India passengers having to sleep on the floor of a school has surfaced on Twitter. 

On June 6, 2023, an Air India flight bound for San Francisco, California was forced to make a detour to Magadan due to a lack of hotel space, forcing the passengers to stay in temporary quarters.

According to a statement released by Air India, flight AI173, operating between Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) landed safely at GDX following a “technical issue en route with one of its engines”. The Indian airline has been engaged with local authorities ever since the Boeing 777-200LR landed at the remote airport. 

“Given the infrastructural limitations around the remote airport, we can confirm that all passengers were eventually moved to a makeshift accommodation, after making sincere attempts to accommodate passengers in hotels locally with the help of local government authorities,” the Air India statement continued.  

The airline has been collaborating with the local ground handlers, authorities, and Indian Consulate General in Vladivostok, Russia, despite the fact that Air India lacks support personnel in the nation. 

Upon receiving regulatory approval, the Indian airline will dispatch a plane on a ferry journey on June 7, 2023, transporting passengers and the crew to SFO. 

“The ferry flight would be carrying food and other essentials for our passengers,” Air India added.

Yesterday, @AirIndia flight 173 from Delhi to San Francisco was diverted to Magadan, in rural Russia w/ over 220, mostly elderly, passengers.

Sat in plane for 6 hrs & after 18 hrs now, no word from Air India, @MEAIndia.

Here is a just taken video from a jittery passenger : pic.twitter.com/n6qymnvXrc

— Tarun Shukla (@shukla_tarun) June 7, 2023

 

“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,” the airline concluded.  

According to a separate statement by Air India, the ferry flight is scheduled to depart “soon” from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM).

A second Boeing 777-200LR, registered as VT-ALF, has departed from BOM at 3:21 PM local time (UTC +5:30), traveling in the direction of GDX.

Due to an engine problem, the Boeing 777-200LR, registered as VT-ALH, was forced to divert to Magadan Sokol Airport (GDX). The plane was due to arrive at SFO at 7:00 AM local time (UTC -7) after taking off from DEL at 4:23 AM local time (UTC +5:30). 

Prior to touching down at GDX, the Air India crew did not squawk 7700, the standard emergency code on board an aircraft.  

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