Passengers of flight diverted to Russia leave for San Francisco in another aircraft: Air India

New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): The passengers of the Air India’s Delhi-San Francisco flight, which was diverted to Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Airport due to a technical issue, have left for the US city in another aircraft, the airline said.

The ferry flight departed from the Russian airport carrying all the stranded passengers, Air India said in a post on social media platform X.

“AI1179 departed Krasnoyarsk (KJA) at 0002 Hrs local time (20 July) for San Francisco (SFO), carrying all passengers and crew of AI183 that was diverted to KJA,” it said.

“Air India has mobilised additional on-ground support at SFO to carry out the clearance formalities for all passengers upon arrival. The team at SFO are prepared to provide all necessary assistance to the passengers, including but not limited to medical care, ground transportation, and onward connections in applicable cases,” the airline added.

After the flight took off, the Embassy of India in Moscow also thanked the Foreign Ministry of Russia and others for the assistance provided to the passengers.

In a post on X, the India Embassy said, “Air India Rescue Flight AI 1179 with passengers of AI-183 took off from Krasnoyarsk for San Francisco”.

“The Embassy of India, Moscow thanks the Foreign Ministry of Russia and its Representative Office in Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport, the Krasnoyarsk Krai Government, airport authorities and security officials, for the assistance to the passengers and to Embassy’s team in the coordination work throughout the emergency situation,” the post added.

Earlier, Air India said that they had obtained clearance for a relief flight that would take the passengers of flight AI-183, stranded at Krasnoyarsk airport due to a technical issue, to San Francisco.

The airline said that the team is carrying essentials and sufficient food for all passengers.

In a post on X, the airline said, “UPDATE #4: FERRY FLIGHT AI1179 TO KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIA. Our ferry flight AI1179 from Mumbai (BOM) to Krasnoyarsk, Russia (KJA) is now airborne and is expected to arrive at KJA at 2000 Hrs (local time) on 19 July 2024. An Air India team, including crew and security personnel, are on board the flight to provide any support that the passengers and staff at KJA may require. The ferry flight is carrying essentials in addition to a sufficient amount of food for all passengers. The aircraft will ferry all passengers and crew out of KJA at the earliest.”

The Indian Embassy in Moscow also said that an Embassy team of three senior officials and an interpreter is on the ground in Krasnoyarsk to assist the passengers of the Air India flight AI183 which made an emergency landing on Thursday.

Earlier, the airline had said that “Food and beverage amenities at the terminal, which were closed for the evening, have now opened and meals are being provided to all passengers. Representatives from the Indian consulate in Moscow have travelled overnight and are working with Russian authorities to allow passengers to move to hotels, which have been on standby throughout the night. Regulatory clearances have been obtained for a relief flight that will depart Mumbai at 1100 hrs IST and ferry the guests out of Krasnoyarsk International Airport later today. Air India regrets the inconvenience to passengers arising from this diversion, which was undertaken in the interest of safety.”