Planes at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. Picture: alamy
An Air India flight traveling from Delhi to Birmingham was forced to make an emergency landing at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport on Wednesday evening due to a potential technical issue in the cargo hold area. The Boeing 787-800, carrying 258 passengers and 17 crew members, safely touched down around 9:30 pm local time without any reported injuries.
The flight crew detected a potential problem in the cargo hold and requested an unscheduled landing at Sheremetyevo Airport. In a statement, the airport confirmed that they promptly responded to the crew’s request, preparing to receive the aircraft under the applicable emergency protocols.
“The aircraft’s crew requested an unscheduled landing at Sheremetyevo Airport due to technical problems. Airport services promptly responded to the crew’s request and prepared to receive the aircraft according to the applicable emergency plan,” the airport said. The foreign crew received full assistance from Russian airport authorities and specialists, in accordance with international conventions.
The specific nature of the technical problem that led to the unscheduled stop has not been disclosed. The UK government has issued strong travel advisories against all travel to Russia, citing ongoing military aggression by Vladimir Putin’s regime against Ukraine, adding another layer of complexity to the incident.
Despite these advisories, the situation was handled with efficiency and professionalism, ensuring the safety of all onboard. The airline is expected to investigate the issue further and make arrangements for the passengers’ onward journey to Birmingham.
