An Air India flight destined for San Francisco from New Delhi, India was redirected to Krasnoyarsk International Airport (KJA) in Russia on Thursday due to a technical problem onboard.
The Boeing 777, operating as AI-183, departed Delhi at 3:44 PM IST and was rerouted as a precautionary measure, according to the airline.
The decision to divert was made by the pilots upon receiving an alert from the “engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS)” indicating a cargo hold warning. The aircraft landed safely in Krasnoyarsk.
“Air India flight AI183 scheduled for July 18, 2024, from Delhi to San Francisco, made a precautionary landing at Krasnoyarsk International Airport (KJA) in Russia after a possible issue in the cargo hold area was detected by the cockpit crew,” the airline stated.
Air India has informed passengers that they are actively addressing the technical problem and organizing for the continuation of the journey to San Francisco. A ferry flight to Russia will transport passengers to San Francisco promptly, the airline assured.
This incident marks the second time in slightly over a year that an Air India flight on this route has had to make an emergency landing in Russia. In June 2023, a flight from Delhi to San Francisco was redirected to Magadan, Russia, due to an engine malfunction.
During that incident, the airplane, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members, landed safely, and passengers were eventually flown to their destination after a 39-hour delay.
This year, Boeing 777 aircraft have been involved in various incidents, intensifying scrutiny on Boeing, which is already facing challenges.
On March 7, a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 traveling from San Francisco to Japan experienced a tire blowout shortly after takeoff, necessitating an emergency landing in Los Angeles.
Less than a week later, a United Airlines Boeing 777-300 had to return to Sydney shortly after takeoff due to a fuel leak.
Then, on May 21, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-312ER encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar, resulting in one fatality and over 100 injuries. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Bangkok, sparking widespread scrutiny and an apology from the airline’s CEO.