Air India ferry flight AI 195 takes off from Mumbai for Magadan to fly AI 173 passengers to San Francisco

An Air India flight flying from Delhi to San Francisco, US developed a technical glitch and had to make an emergency landing in the far arctic east of Russia on Tuesday, June 6. The flight carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members also included an unknown number of American nationals. 

Flight AI173 had to make an emergency landing at Sokol airport in the port town of Magadan, Russia on June 6 after one of the engines developed a technical snag. 

Given the tensions between the US and Russia, there were concerns about the safety of American nationals stranded in Russia. It needs to be noted that American carriers no longer fly over Russian airspace and only Indian, Chinese, Gulf-based, and African carriers still continue their operations over Russia. 

US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel responded to the situation on Tuesday.

Air India rescue flight status

• Air India's alternate flight has finally taken off from Mumbai for Magadan, Russia. It is expected to land in Magadan at around 1 am IST (Magadan local time 6 am) on Thursday, June 8. The flight took off after several delays. Stranded passengers have been waiting for over 20 hours. 

• The Air India flight AI195 is scheduled as the alternate aircraft supposed to pick up passengers from Magadan. However, as of 2.22 pm IST Flight AI195 is still not showing on FlightRadar24. 
• It seems like the flight which was supposed to take off from Mumbai at 1 pm IST, has still not departed. 
• On the other hand, Air India told a Twitter user that the flight is set to depart "anytime soon".

• After Air India was criticised for poor communication and arrangements for stranded passengers in Magadan, Russia, the airline finally released a statement about the current situation. 

• Air India said that the alternate flight will depart from Mumbai at 1 pm IST. It was supposed to reach Magadan at around 8.30 am IST on Wednesday. 
• With regards to the makeshift accommodation, Air India said given the unusual circumstances and the remoteness of the location, they made whatever arrangements were available with the help of local authorities, the Russian and Indian embassies.      

What has happened so far? 

• There are currently no reports of any possible threats to the safety of any passenger or crew member. 
• Air India had said that they will send another aircraft to Sokol airport to pick up the passengers and transport them to their original destination. 

• However, on Twitter, there are several complaints that Air India is not providing any proper response to the passengers. According to a series of tweets that came post 10 am IST, it seems like the evacuation plane that was supposed to take the passengers to San Francisco hasn't picked them up yet. 

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Passengers not accommodated in hotels

• CNN reported citing an Air India spokesperson that the passengers were being accommodated in local hotels. 
• However, on Twitter, relatives of passengers and passengers themselves complained that they had not been given any hotel accommodation and instead at housed at a makeshift facility. 
• Most of the passengers seem to be the elderly. 
• Viral images showed passengers having to stay at a school with mattresses and blankets on the ground. 

• Twitter users pointed out that given the remoteness of the Arctic region, it may be difficult to find hotels for all passengers. 

• It doesn't seem like there are many places of accommodation near Sokol airport, with TripAdvisor showing just one hotel within 2 miles. 

Richa Verma, whose parents are on the flight, told DailyMail that Russian officials were being hospitable to those stranded. 

• On Twitter, people complained that the accommodation situation has worsened since June 6, with only four bathrooms between more than 200 passengers. 

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The controversy over Russian airspace

• Russia banned American and other foreign airlines (mostly European) from flying over its airspace after Washington banned Russian flights from flying over the US in March 2022 following the Ukraine invasion.  
• However, countries that maintain good relations with Relations continue to use this route, especially for American destinations, given it is more efficient. 

• FlightRadar24 data showed that Air India continued flying over Russia after the recent incident, with four other flights scheduled to fly over the country on Tuesday afternoon. 

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• On the other hand, on June 5, the United Airlines Chief of the US warned that a plane can be forced to land in Russia if it is in its airspace and American citizens can be held hostage. 
• Besides the safety concern for American nationals, there is also a question on how soon the US-made Boeing 777 aircraft of Air India can be repaired and fit for takeoff. 
• Given the sanctions on Russia, it may be difficult to procure the parts needed to repair the aircraft. 
• There was a similar incident in 2018 when a Norwegian Air Boeing 737 had to make an emergency landing in Iran after US had re-imposed sanctions on the country. 
• While the passengers and crew flew out safely, it took over two months for the aircraft to be repatriated. 

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