Air India sends aid for passengers stuck in Russia

Air India said it would send a replacement plane to transfer 216 passengers and 16 staff members stuck in Russia’s Magadan after their Delhi-San Francisco flight experienced a problem with one of its engines and was forced to land.

The replacement flight would fly from Mumbai at roughly 1 p.m.,’ subject to relevant regulatory clearances,’ and ‘will carry food and other needs for our passengers,’ according to an Air India statement issued Wednesday morning.

Air India also stated that due to limited infrastructure at and around the airport in Magadan, which is located on Russia’s eastern coast and more than 10,000 kilometres from the capital Moscow, stranded passengers had been moved to makeshift accommodation after making sincere attempts to accommodate passengers in hotels locally…’

“Because we do not have Air India personnel based in Magadan or Russia, all ground support provided to passengers is the best possible in this unusual circumstance…” According to Air India. 

The airline further stated that it is collaborating with the Consulate General of India in Vladivostok (around 4,900 kilometres from Magadan), the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian authorities, and local officials.

The plane is scheduled to land early Thursday morning, according to the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia.

Statement by Indian Government:

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is closely monitoring the issue, the government stated this morning, adding that it is in regular contact with the airline. The ministry also stated that AI informed it that some passengers were being kept in a school facility near the airport.

What happened to AI173 of Air India?

The jet was a widebody Boeing 777 with a problem with one of its engines and had to land at Magadan. The plane is currently being inspected for safety.

Meanwhile, videos and photos uploaded on Twitter show some people being forced to sleep on the floors of what look to be residences or dorms; one woman said her husband is one of the passengers.

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