Air India Delhi-San Francisco flight makes emergency landing in Russia due to glitch

A New Delhi-San Francisco bound flight was diverted to Russia where it made an emergency landing due to a technical glitch in the engine of the plane. The flight, which was carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members, landed safely in Magadan. Air India Boeing 777-200 (reg. VT-ALH) had incurred some malfunction in its engine, the Rossiya Airlines technicians are currently investigating the glitch and working to resolve the problem quickly. 

"The Air India flight AI173 of date, operating Delhi to San Fransisco has developed a technical issue with one of its engines. The flight landed safely in Magadan airport in Russia," Air India confirmed in a statement. 

"The passengers are being provided with all support on the ground and will be provided alternate options to reach their destination at the earliest. The aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks in Russia. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers,” the company said. 

Air India spokesperson, in a statement, noted that the passengers onboard the flight are being provided with all support on the ground. They will be provided alternate options to reach their destinations at the earliest, he added. The aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks on the ground in Russia, the Air India spokesperson informed. 

In another updated statement regarding the flight AI 173, Air India said that it will operate an alternate aircraft from Magadan to San Francisco on June 7. The flight will be carrying all passengers and crew of AI173 who are presently accommodated in local hotels in Magadan, the statement read. "The authorities are extending all cooperation in our effort to ensure that passengers safely reach their destination at the earliest."

#LIVE | A Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight diverted to Magadan in Russia due to technical snag. Flight landed safely in Russia: Air India official.#AirIndiaFlight #Magadan #Russia https://t.co/6CjsNJaatY pic.twitter.com/htAshiVj3b

— Republic (@republic)

Bomb scare on Azur Air flight en route from Moscow to Goa

In January, a bomb scare on the Azur Air flight en route from Moscow to Goa caused the flight to make an emergency landing at Jamnagar Indian Air Force Base. The authorities conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft, the embassy informed in a statement. The anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Gujarat joined the scene and carried out sanitisation of the Azur Air plane which was flying with 244 people on board. All passengers were evacuated at the time and were directed into the airport lounge inside the terminal building. Jamnagar Collector Saurabh Pargi, at the time, told Republic Media Network that all passengers "were deboarded and probe agencies searched the aircraft. Goa ATS received the bomb threat messages."

In October 2022 the IAF had to intercept and escort an Iranian Mahan Airlines through Indian airspace it received a bomb threat from Lahore air traffic control (ATC). The Mahan Air flight W581 hovered in the Indian skies for about 40 minutes and later was allowed to fly to its destination en route to Guangzhou in China after the Iranian authorities confirmed to the Indian officials to “disregard the bomb scare” calling it “fake.”