An Air India flight traveling from Dehli to San Francisco was diverted to Russia after a technical issue.
According to CNN, Flight AI173 was carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew when it developed a technical issue with one of its engines. The flight was diverted to Russia’s Magadan Airport.
Russia has banned several Western countries from using its airspace. However, Russia’s aviation authority had given permission for the alternate flight to land around 3:00 GMT on Wednesday, Reuters reports. The flight will transport those on Flight AI173 to San Francisco.
Passengers and crewmembers are being accommodated in local hotels for the night.
“Air India will operate an alternate aircraft from Magadan to San Francisco on June 7, 2023 carrying all passengers and crew of AI173 who are presently accommodated in local hotels in Magadan,” an Air India spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.
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The United States government has said it is monitoring the situation as there likely were U.S. citizens onboard the flight.
“We are aware of a US-bound flight that had to make an emergency landing in Russia, and are continuing to monitor that situation closely,” said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, according to CNN.
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