Air India 777 DEL-SFO diverts to Russia

[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]

Originally Posted by WHBM

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]

Originally Posted by Lake1952

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]

Originally Posted by HOVIS

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]

Originally Posted by rudestuff

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]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

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 Russia

And 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/a...mpaign=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]

Originally Posted by WillFlyForCheese

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]

Originally Posted by WHBM

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]

Originally Posted by sf25

Explains pretty well why it's indeed a problem:
https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/a...mpaign=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’ !