An Air India flight bound for San Francisco made a precautionary landing in Siberia, Russia, on Friday due to a potential issue in the cargo hold.
The flight, carrying 225 passengers and 19 crew members, landed safely at Krasnoyarsk International Airport, according to an Air India statement. The Tata Group-owned airline confirmed that the unplanned landing occurred around midnight local time.
Air India has confirmed that its ferry flight AI1179 from Mumbai to Krasnoyarsk is now airborne and expected to arrive at 2000 hrs local time on 19 July 2024. The ferry flight is carrying essentials and sufficient food for all passengers. An Air India team, including crew and security personnel, is on board to provide support as needed.
Passengers were required to remain in the terminal building due to the lack of Russian visas. Food and beverage services, initially closed for the evening, were reopened to provide meals.
Indian consulate officials in Moscow rushed to the airport to coordinate with Russian authorities and arrange for passengers to be moved to hotels. A relief flight from Mumbai received regulatory clearances and was scheduled to depart at 1100 hrs IST to transport passengers from Krasnoyarsk later that day.
This incident marks the second time in just over a year that an Air India flight on this route has landed unscheduled in Russia. Despite US and EU airlines avoiding Russian airspace, Air India uses this route for its time and cost advantages for US-bound flights.
The airport reported that the landing was due to an activated smoke detector. Russia's civil aviation agency, Rosaviatsiya, stated that there were no signs of fire or smoke on the aircraft.
The Indian Embassy in Russia stated, “An Embassy team of three senior officials and an interpreter is on the ground in Krasnoyarsk to assist the passengers of the Air India flight to San Francisco which made an emergency landing at Krasnoyarsk last night.”
It further added, “The team is coordinating with airport and security authorities and representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry to provide all possible assistance to the passengers. The team will stay on the ground in Krasnoyarsk until Air India’s replacement plane arrives and takes the passengers on their onward journey.”