New Delhi: Air India flight AI-1179, which was originally badged as AI-183, safely landed in San Francisco after nearly 30 hours. The flight, traveling from New Delhi to San Francisco, was diverted to Krasnoyarsk International Airport (UNKL) in Russia on July 18 due to a technical issue.
Diversion and Precautionary Landing
On July 18, Air India flight AI-183, carrying 225 passengers and 19 crew members, took off from Delhi at 6 PM but was diverted to Krasnoyarsk International Airport in Russia due to a potential issue detected in the cargo hold area by the cockpit crew. The aircraft made a precautionary landing, and passengers and crew disembarked to the terminal for further processing.
Third-Party Support and Coordination
Since Air India did not have staff at Krasnoyarsk, they arranged third-party support to assist passengers. The airline coordinated with government agencies and regulatory authorities to dispatch a ferry flight from Mumbai to Krasnoyarsk. This ferry flight, AI-1179, carried an Air India team, including crew and security personnel, along with essentials and sufficient food for all passengers.
Arrival in San Francisco
AI-1179 departed Krasnoyarsk at midnight local time on July 20, heading to San Francisco with all passengers and crew of AI-183. Air India had mobilized additional on-ground support in San Francisco to expedite clearance formalities and provide necessary assistance, including medical care, ground transportation, and onward connections where applicable.
The airline reported, “AI 1179 landed safely in San Francisco at 2027 Hrs local time (July 19). We thank the DGCA, the Government of India, the Embassy of India in Russia, the Russian authorities, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), US Customs and Border Protection, Krasnoyarsk International Airport, and all partners involved for their support in the situation. Finally, our thanks to the passengers of AI183 for their patience and understanding during the diversion. Safety remains our foremost priority and something we will never compromise on.”
Conclusion
The successful landing of AI-1179 in San Francisco marked the end of a 48-hour travel ordeal for the passengers, highlighting the airline’s commitment to passenger safety and efficient coordination in handling unexpected technical issues.