Stranded San Francisco-bound fliers: Air India ferry flight likely to reach Russia tomorrow

A ferry flight, which left Mumbai on Wednesday and is expected to arrive at Russia's Magadan around 6.30 am on Thursday, will air-lift stranded Indian passengers to San Francisco, Air India said in a statement.

An Air India flight, headed to San Francisco from New Delhi, was diverted to Magadan on Tuesday after a technical issue with one of its engines.

To facilitate quicker updates to those concerned about the well-being of the stranded passengers at Magadan, Air India also opened a dedicated, round-the-clock hotline number.

"Air India has activated a dedicated, round-the-clock hotline: 91 124 264 1427," the carrier said in a statement.

Further, in its statement, AI said, "Our ferry flight AI195 from Mumbai (BOM) to Magadan, Russia (GDX) is now airborne, and is expected to arrive at GDX at 0630 Hours (local time) on June 8, 2023."

The ferry flight is carrying essentials in addition to a sufficient amount of food to cater to all passengers.

"An Air India team are on board the flight to provide any support that the passengers and staff at GDX may require. The ferry flight is carrying essentials in addition to a sufficient amount of food to cater to all passengers on the onward flight scheduled from GDX to San Francisco (SFO)," it read.

The aircraft operating the ferry flight will take all passengers and crew to San Francisco on June 8, 2023. Air India flight AI173 operating Delhi-San Francisco on June 6, had developed a technical issue en route with one of its engines.

The flight with 216 passengers and 16 crew was diverted to Magadan, Russia (GDX), where it had safely landed.

The airline also said that "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."

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," Air India said.

The flight with 216 passengers and 16 crew was diverted to Magadan, Russia (GDX) where it landed safely.