Air India 777 DEL-SFO diverts to Russia

[steamchicken]

An Air India 777 operating from New Delhi to San Francisco has made an emergency landing in Magadan in the Russian Far East after an engine issue (GE engines). There is considerable concern about how Russia will behave towards Americans and others among the 216 pax and 16 crew as well as any GE engineers sent to fix the aircraft:

US-bound Air India passengers face tense wait after landing in Russia (https://archive.is/Lg5Sq)

[ASRAAMTOO]

One assumes that neither GE engineers nor GE parts will be sent to Russia as that would be illegal?

[steamchicken]

One assumes that neither GE engineers nor GE parts will be sent to Russia as that would be illegal?

That's precisely the problem. (well, so long as the Russians don't decide anyone's passport has been mutilated or something.)

[EddyCurr]

Simples.

Send a flight now for passengers and crew (and cargo?). Then recover the aircraft at a later date after hostilities end.

Is a reliable, detailed copy of the cargo manifest available?

[WillFlyForCheese]

After Ryanair 4978, this concern is both real and amplified. I couldn’t imagine the fear and concern being an American on that flight, being told you’re diverting to Russia. I think, at this point, I’d not take a flight that was using Russian air space. Hope it’s much to do about nothing - but I’d want no part of it.

I do understand a replacement plane is being sent today - but one minute on the ground in Russia is one minute too many.

[atakacs]

After Ryanair 4978, this concern is both real and amplified. I couldn’t imagine the fear and concern being an American on that flight, being told you’re diverting to Russia. I think, at this point, I’d not take a flight that was using Russian air space. Hope it’s much to do about nothing - but I’d want no part of it.

Apparently (from the other thread (https://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/640620-fr4978-ath-vno-diverted-escorted-minsk-alleged-bomb-threat-but.html?highlight=FR4978)) it is unreasonable to expect PAX to inquire about their routing...

In this specific case my money is about the Russian playing it "by the book", if nothing else for PR benefits. Hope for all involved it will indeed be the case.

[WillFlyForCheese]

Apparently (from the other thread (https://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-640620.html)) it is unreasonable to expect PAX to inquire about their routing...

In this specific case my money is about the Russian playing it "by the book", if nothing else for PR benefits. Hope for all involved it will indeed be the case.

Understood, but I would look at routing and avoid the route. That info is available - if others don’t access it - that’s their choice. I see AI 195 is in the air on its way to Magadan. So - this might be a non-issue.

[WillFlyForCheese]

Quite a sight - isn’t it?


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/686x735/img_0175_564d51e1982758b7e989dfe414722f650dc46e5d.jpeg

[rudestuff]

I couldn’t imagine the fear and concern being an American on that flight, being told you’re diverting to Russia.
Am I missing something?

[HOVIS]

Am I missing something?
Er... Ukraine perhaps?

[Expatrick]

Given Modi's & Putin's cosy relationship I can't see any dramas.

[HOVIS]

One assumes that neither GE engineers nor GE parts will be sent to Russia as that would be illegal?
What about Air India's own engineers?

[CargoOne]

I am sure Russians will just play by the book, it also helps that India is a neutral country towards them, those days it almost mean an ally in their eyes.
Also bringing Air India engineers to inspect/repair is not an issue.
There is a potential twist if the engine needs to be replaced in Magadan. 1) US sanctions on technology and parts export; 2) to bring a complete GE90 assy you need an An-124 and then VDA is banned outside Russia and ADB will not fly to Russia. That will be quite a logistics with paperwork change in transit…

[Jonty]

Single engine takeoff for an empty 777? 🤣

[ATC Watcher]

Do not see the problem , it is not a US airline . The engineers and an engine ( if needed) can come from India , if a new engine is needed it will;be delivered to India , not Russia.
As to pax checking the route, and buying a ticket accordingly, good luck, unless you buy it last minute after having access to the filed Flight plan .That said, if you fly on an airline not following the sanctions ( e.g. UAE, Chinese, Indian or Turkish companies, ) you can guess they will overfly Russia if the shorted route is via their airspace.

[Asturias56]

Neither Russia nor the USA are going to be stupid about this and cause the Indians a problem - it's not in anyone's interest. Max damage would be a "stiffly worded note" from State = straight in the bin in New Delhi

[northboy]

Norwegian had this type of issue when one of its 737MAXs diverted to Iran a few years ago. Think they managed to rescue it but from memory it involved careful diplomacy.

[DaveReidUK]

Understood, but I would look at routing and avoid the route. That info is available - if others don’t access it - that’s their choice.

AI173 either overflies Russia, or goes nowhere near it (depending presumably on winds). It's naive to expect that the majority of passengers will be aware of that.

[Asturias56]

or that they care anyway

[pax britanica]

Maybe the Russkis will just impound the 'bad' engine and use it as spares on one of Aeroflots triples. And as has been said there is an astonishing array of routes from AI to get from India to USA but they are literally half a world away

[WHBM]

Seems to be taking a lengthy time for Air India to send off a relief aircraft. Other mainstream carriers in this situation would have an aircraft, taken from whatever schedule, or even chartered from say China, off in a few hours to pick up the passengers.

[Capt Fathom]

Seems to be taking a lengthy time for Air India to send off a relief aircraft.

The rescue aircraft has just departed Magadan for San Francisco.

[Lake1952]

FWIW, the AI departures to SFO today appear to be avoiding Russian airspace, taking a more southerly route over China and Japan.

[Dont worry]

In my opinion, there is no way that the aircraft will leave Russia again the way it is.
the Indians will make a deal with Aeroflot and the airplane will stay where it is and the Russians will have a lot of new Spare Parts.

[jolihokistix]

Agreed, and AI may even have another 'engine failure' in the future.

[DaveReidUK]

FWIW, the AI departures to SFO today appear to be avoiding Russian airspace, taking a more southerly route over China and Japan.

As often happens, not a new phenomenon.

[rudestuff]

Er... Ukraine perhaps?
Yup, still not seeing why a third party national would be 'fearful' though. It's still just Russia vs Ukraine isn't it?

[Asturias56]

Yup, still not seeing why a third party national would be 'fearful' though. It's still just Russia vs Ukraine isn't it?

Agreed - we see this thru a western lens - over half the world's countries are staying out of it and aren't imposing any sanctions - and some of course, like China & India, are making a packet out of the Russians

[ATC Watcher]

Agreed - we see this thru a western lens - over half the world's countries are staying out of it and aren't imposing any sanctions - and some of course, like China & India, are making a packet out of the Russians
Spot on , you can add Turkey to the list who makes a fortune , catering for the Russian travellers in and out of Russia.. In addition the "fair" economic competition between China and Europe is heavily distored as the a airlines from China are flying direct over Russia, while their western counterparts have to avoid at a substantive additional cost. and extra flight time.

[flash8]

I couldn’t imagine the fear and concern being an American on that flight, being told you’re diverting to Russia. Plenty of Americans still in Russia, as well as British, Irish and other, leading a normal life. Unless you commit a criminal offence or are a threat to the state you can pretty much go about as normal. Most folk treat you no differently.

you can add Turkey to the list who makes a fortune , catering for the Russian travellers in and out of RussiaAnd it isn't cheap you are correct, caters however for all travellers not just Russian who have the appropriate visa/dispensations.

[sf25]

Explains pretty well why it's indeed a problem:
https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/air-india-russia-diversion/?utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website

[lederhosen]

A quick trawl of the internet says that Air India reported a low oil pressure warning. So it might not necessarily need an engine change …..depends if the engine was shut down in time or indeed what caused the problem. Interestingly this is the second such event on their fleet of seven this year. A previous AI 777 in February diverted to Stockholm. I would suggest that on such a small fleet the crew would be well informed about this recent incident and despite Fairbanks or somewhere else in Alaska being tempting they elected to get to the nearest suitable rather than convenient airport.

[WHBM]

I couldn’t imagine the fear and concern being an American on that flight, being told you’re diverting to Russia.
Ah yes. Because the USA, uniquely I believe, puts people arriving at US airports without the right documentation INTO HANDCUFFS. I think they are the only country to do this, but US citizens doubtless believe this is the way everyone else behaves.

In fact, I understand that all at Magadan, a minimalist settlement apart from a long runway, rallied round. Sort of what you would expect from Russians. Apparently there was no mainstream facility for all the passengers so the local school was taken over for the day.

[Lake1952]

When the nearest diversion airport with ideal facilities and logistics are 1800 nm away, you choose to put the plane down safely. Like the Delta 777 diversion to Ascension Island on a JNB-ATL flight years ago. Or the VS B747 that diverted to Iqaluit in the Canadian Arctic for a medical emergency in 1996 (that one clipped a wing on a small building while taxiing to the ramp).

[Bksmithca]

Ah yes. Because the USA, uniquely I believe, puts people arriving at US airports without the right documentation INTO HANDCUFFS. I think they are the only country to do this, but US citizens doubtless believe this is the way everyone else behaves.

Your comparing apples to banana. If a flight from Russia had to divert to an American airport nobody would be placed in handcuffs. If it someone trying to sneak into the country then yes handcuffs would be applied.

[DaveReidUK]

Explains pretty well why it's indeed a problem:
https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/air-india-russia-diversion/?utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website

"Aircraft will likely be stuck in Russia for quite some time".

Notwithstanding FR24's prediction, I don't expect that will be the case.

[Capt Fathom]

Aircraft is now enroute to Delhi. So much for being parted out! :}

[WHBM]

Possibly the inbound relief aircraft brought in engineers and/or parts. Or Rossiya engineers on site, who have a daily 777-300ER to/from Moscow, fixed it.

[Capt Fathom]

The passengers spent 24 hours in Magadan before continuing on to SFO. And 5 days after leaving Delhi, the aircraft is not far from arriving back home. A pretty good effort really.

[stilton]

Brings back memories of the opening scene of ‘white knights’ !

[WHBM]

I was surprised to learn that the Indian government has a consular office in Vladivostok.

[Lake1952]

VT-ALH arrived back in BOM yesterday, June 10. It is scheduled for a revenue flight to DEL at 0700 local on June 12.

It would appear that the engine was repaired and did not need replacement.

[WHBM]

AI173 either overflies Russia, or goes nowhere near it (depending presumably on winds). It's naive to expect that the majority of passengers will be aware of that.
Notably the relief aircraft departed India heading even more westerly than the original flight. The logical great circle route Mumbai to Magadan is just straight across China, but they headed north-west over Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, then turning easterly over Russia. The failed aircraft came back the same dogleg way. It seems an issue here is not transit of Russian airspace, but of Chinese.