56 hours since takeoff from Delhi, 216 Air India passengers land in San Francisco on replacement flight
Air India alternate flight takes off from Magadan to San Francisco. Photo: Twitter/Air India, dip_niranjan
The Air India Flight AI173's story will go down in history. Flight AI173 from Delhi to San Francisco, US took off on June 6 but had to make an emergency landing in the far east of Russia, Magadan, a place which is nothing but the frozen Arctic. Over 200 passengers, mostly Indian and old, were in for a shock after discovering that they were stranded in the middle of nowhere, with little to no facilities.
After 39 long hours of being stranded in a makeshift accommodation made of mattresses on the floor in a school with just 4 bathrooms between 200 people, the passengers have finally landed in San Francisco.
UPDATE: AI173D TOUCHES DOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO
— Air India (@airindia) June 8, 2023
Flight AI173D from Magadan (GDX) landed safely in San Francisco (SFO) at 0007 Hours on 08 June 2023 (local time).
All our passengers are being extended maximum on-ground assistance with clearance formalities and provided other…
The ferry flight AI195 took off with passengers and crew at 10.27 am on June 8 (local time).
UPDATE: AIR INDIA FLIGHT AI173D TAKES OFF FOR SAN FRANCISCO FROM MAGADAN
— Air India (@airindia) June 7, 2023
Flight AI173D from Magadan, Russia (GDX) is now airborne for San Francisco (SFO), carrying all passengers and crew. The flight departed GDX at 1027 Hours on 08 June 2023 (local time) and is expected to…
How the drama unfolded:
- June 6, 4.05 am IST: Flight AI173 took off from Delhi for San Francisco.
- It was supposed to be a 14-15 hour journey to the destination, a non-stop flight, something most people would book their parents for a hassle-free journey halfway across the world.
- June 6, 2.10 pm: The flight had to make an emergency landing at Sokol airport in Magadan, Russia following a technical snag in one of its engines.
It needs to be noted that Air India is only a few carriers in the world that take the route through the Russian Arctic to reach North America. US and Western carriers are either banned from Russian airspace or avoid it due to political tensions following the Ukraine invasion. It is also the shortest route and the most efficient route to reach North America from India.
[ALSO READ: How a revised Air India route helped AI 173 Delhi-San Francisco land on ground in Magadan]
- Passengers thought they would be accommodated in a hotel and the wait time wouldn't be long. That's what they were initially promised. But that's not what happened.
AI 173 passengers diverted to Magadan are being housed in a basketball court with a mattress and a pillow. @airindia staff nowhere to be found. Is this how you'd treat passengers? #AirIndiahavoc @DrSJaishankar @IndEmbMoscow pic.twitter.com/pxoCmlL1Ul
— Triveni Menon (@veni_menon) June 6, 2023
- Magadan is a remote place in Russia, an Arctic Tundra with permafrost all year around. And Air India does not have any ground support in Magadan.
- Due to border control issues, passengers had to be accommodated near the airport. And there aren't that many places to host 200+ people near Sokol airport.
- And so, given the circumstances, Air India said they did their best to house the stranded passengers and crew in makeshift accommodation.
- They were provided with food and even medical attention for the elderly. Passengers weren't able to use their international or American credit or debit cards owing to the sanctions on Russia.
#airindia i was on flight AI173 which took emergency landing in russia due to engine fault. People were distress but we have been given makeshift accommodation and timely Russian volunteers are givng food meds water and also doctors have been available. Hats off to India Gov pic.twitter.com/8cItxvTDFX
— hope (@chitraprecious) June 7, 2023
- Those with children and pregnant women were housed in the dormitories of a nearby medical centre, while others were accommodated at a school, which was shut for summer vacation, with mattresses and blankets.
It is also fortunate that the incident took place during summer. The temperatures during winters in Magadan can drop anywhere between -20 degree Celsius to -60 degree Celsius.
Despite not having any staff at Magada Airport and anywhere in #Russia for that matter, #TataGroup backed @airindia in close coordination with the Government's of #India and Russia seems to have found medical assistance for passengers who might have been in need.
— VT-VLO (@Vinamralongani) June 7, 2023
Here is a photo… pic.twitter.com/bd7o1LxxwM
- While some passengers were grateful for the Russian hospitality under the circumstances, others said the situation was becoming worse as more time passed, since many passengers were elderly.
#AI173 with 216 passengers stuck in Magadan, Russia since 2 pm IST Tue 6/6 after technical issues. Passengers staying at makeshift accommodation in a nearby school. Conditions have become miserable, no updates from @airindia, bad food. Crew not helping. @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar pic.twitter.com/05NprP9PCw
— Dipankar Niranjan (@dip_niranjan) June 7, 2023
- There were also concerns being raised for American citizens who were stranded in Magadan. Just days before, a US carrier United Airlines chief had warned of the possibility of Russia forcing a plane in their airspace to land and holding American nationals hostage.
- There were over 50 American nationals and some Canadian nationals as well. The US government was also monitoring the situation closely.
- Then on the other side of the planet in India, Air India's alternate flight to ferry the stranded passengers to their original destination was being delayed.
- It was slated to take off from Mumbai at 1 pm IST, but ultimately, it took off around 3 pm IST, with engineers and food, and other essentials.
- And now, the 14-15 hour original journey has turned into a nearly 57-hour journey with a 39-hour stop at Magadan.
- Air India said that they will provide various kinds of support for the passengers including medical after they land in San Francisco. They have also opened a hotline after much delay.
UPDATE: DEDICATED CUSTOMER HOTLINE SET UP
— Air India (@airindia) June 7, 2023
To facilitate quicker updates to those concerned about passengers in Magadan, Air India has activated a dedicated, round-the-clock hotline: +91 124 264 1427.
What happens to the aircraft?
- Air India's Boeing 777 widebody is still stuck in Magadan, Russia and it might be stuck there for a while.
- The $200 million plane is US-built. With the sanctions on Russia, it is a wonder how Air India will be able to get any support, spare parts, or equipment required to repair the aircraft.