On Wednesday, Air India reported that a flight traveling from New Delhi to San Francisco had to be diverted to Russia due to an engine issue.

The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members, safely landed at Magadan airport in Siberia on Tuesday, according to the airline’s statement, the Associated Press has reported.

The statement explained that the flight encountered a technical problem with one of its engines, prompting the diversion.

Currently, the aircraft is undergoing safety checks while passengers receive necessary assistance on the ground.

Air India provided an update later on Wednesday, stating that a replacement aircraft had departed from Mumbai and was en route to Magadan to facilitate the onward travel of the stranded passengers to the United States.

The airline confirmed that the passengers would be transported to San Francisco on Thursday using the replacement aircraft.

Vedant Patel, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, acknowledged the likelihood of American citizens being aboard the flight but was unable to immediately ascertain the exact number.

Written by staff