Air India Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Moscow

An Air India Boeing 787-8 flying from Delhi to Birmingham was forced to make an emergency landing in Moscow after the crew reported a technical issue. The incident took place on September 4, 2024, during flight AI113, which had 258 passengers and 17 crew members on board.

The flight departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi at 14:41 local time, slightly delayed, and had been in the air for about six hours when the crew identified the issue while cruising at 40,000 feet. The aircraft, registered as VT-AMP, was approximately 140 nautical miles (224 km) west of Moscow when the issue arose, as reported by the Aviation Herald.

In response to the technical problem, the crew decided to divert to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO), where Air India has maintenance support. The aircraft landed safely at 16:26 local time without incident.

Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft remained grounded in Moscow for just over seven hours. After the necessary checks and maintenance, the flight resumed its journey, arriving in Birmingham at 01:12 on the morning of September 5, 2024.

Sheremetyevo Airport issued a statement confirming the unscheduled landing, stating, “The aircraft’s crew requested an unscheduled landing at Sheremetyevo Airport after encountering technical problems. Airport services promptly responded, and the aircraft was received in accordance with the emergency plan. The crew was given full assistance under international conventions.”

This incident is the second time in recent months that an Air India flight has had to divert to a Russian airport due to technical issues. In July 2024, an Air India flight from Delhi to San Francisco made an emergency landing in Russia’s Siberia region after the crew identified a potential issue in the cargo hold. The Boeing 777-200LR, en route to San Francisco, was diverted to Krasnoyarsk after flying for around six hours.

Similarly, in June 2023, another Air India flight bound for San Francisco had to divert to the remote Russian town of Magadan due to an engine issue. The aircraft had to discontinue its flight to the U.S. West Coast.

The latest incident highlights ongoing challenges for Air India as it works to manage technical issues that have affected its long-haul flights. Fortunately, in this case, the aircraft landed safely, and no passengers or crew were harmed. The airline continues to operate its scheduled services, with safety being a top priority.

With its maintenance support and international cooperation, the flight was able to continue without further disruptions, ensuring passengers reached their destination in Birmingham.