Air India passengers stuck in Russia forced to sleep on floor, faced food and medicine shortage

Passengers stranded in Russia's Magadan are facing many problems after an engine failure on a San Francisco-bound Air India flight led to its diversion on Tuesday. Stranded passengers face problems such as availability of food and accommodation, and are unable to obtain even the necessary medicines.

Due to lack of space in hotels, some passengers were left in schools and some in hostels. Passengers were sent to different places by buses. Some people were also kept inside the school and forced to sleep on the floor. There is also a lack of proper toilet arrangement. In addition, language becomes a barrier in communication.

The plane on board took off from Delhi to San Francisco in the US on Tuesday but made an emergency landing at Sokol Airport in Magadan, Russia after its pilot reported engine trouble mid-flight. Passengers' bags and other necessary belongings lie in the plane itself.

The passenger said that people are also facing problems with food. There is an abundance of seafood and non-vegetables everywhere. In such a situation, people spend their time eating dry bread and drinking soup. Elderly people face problems with medicines because they are not available.

The plane is currently at the airport in Magadan, while the passengers are sheltering in various places. Air India will send a special flight to Magadan on Thursday to take stranded passengers to San Francisco.

"Our ferry flight AI195 from Mumbai (BOM) to Magadan, Russia (GDX) is now airborne and expected to arrive at GDX at 06:30 (local time) on 08 June 2023. On board the flight to provide all support that GDX passengers and staff may need. In addition to sufficient food, the ferry will carry necessities to satisfy all passengers on the next scheduled flight from GDX to San Francisco (SFO). The aircraft operating the ferry flight will transport all passengers and crew to San Francisco on June 8, 2023,” Air India said in a tweet.