US-bound Air India flight makes emergency landing in Russia

An Air India flight bound for San Francisco in the US made an emergency landing in Russia on Tuesday, reports NDTV.

Flight AI173 from Delhi was diverted to Magadan in Russia on Tuesday owing to an engine glitch, reads a statement from the Tata Group-owned private carrier. The flight, a Boeing 777, was carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members.

Speaking to NDTV via telephone, Gagan, a passenger on the plane, described the situation as challenging, with a lack of clarity and inadequate facilities.

The passenger said they were sent to different locations on buses. Some of them were given mattresses to sleep on the floor. The unfamiliar food and the lack of medicine for the elderly are also concerning, he said.

Air India announced on Wednesday that a replacement plane would be sent from Mumbai to transport the stranded passengers from Magadan to San Francisco.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said it was keeping an eye on the situation, with the Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel saying that it was likely that there were US citizens on board the flight.

/KN/