Air India Rescues Stranded Passengers in Russia

Air India dispatched a relief flight from Mumbai to assist passengers stranded at Krasnoyarsk International Airport in Russia. The Delhi-San Francisco flight was diverted due to a potential cargo hold issue. Efforts included regulatory clearances, local support, and coordination with the Indian consulate in Moscow.

Air India operated a relief flight from Mumbai on Friday to rescue passengers stranded at Krasnoyarsk International Airport in Russia, following an unscheduled diversion of its Delhi-San Francisco flight.

The relief flight departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 12.52 pm, and it is expected to arrive in Krasnoyarsk by 7 pm, according to an airline official.

The unscheduled stopover occurred after the cockpit crew identified a potential issue in the cargo hold area of the Boeing 777 aircraft carrying 225 passengers and 19 crew members. Regulatory clearances for the relief flight were promptly secured, facilitating the mission. Local support measures were implemented to assist the stranded passengers, who were unable to leave the terminal building due to visa restrictions. Food and beverage amenities were reopened for the evening to cater to passenger needs.

Representatives from the Indian consulate in Moscow traveled to Krasnoyarsk overnight to liaise with Russian authorities, aiming to relocate passengers to standby hotels.

(With inputs from agencies.)