An Air India passenger plane flying from New Delhi to San Francisco made an emergency landing in Russia after a crew detected a potential issue in the cargo hold area, according to the airline, marking the second incident of its kind on the route in just over a year.

Despite most airlines avoiding Russian airspace due to the conflict in Ukraine, Air India utilizes that route, providing a time and cost advantage on flights bound for the US.

The incident has intensified scrutiny on Boeing, whose aircraft was involved in the flight, as several Boeing planes have been part of air incidents in recent times.

Boeing 777 Aircraft Lands Safely

The Boeing 777 aircraft, with 225 passengers and 19 crew members, made a precautionary landing in Siberia at Krasnoyarsk International Airport, stated the airline on Friday.

Indian consulate representatives in Moscow are assisting passengers in transitioning to standby hotels as they await the replacement plane for their onward journey.

Passengers expressed frustration over amenities and services at the airport, with some resorting to social media to voice their concerns as they awaited further instructions.

"The safety and well-being of the passengers and crew remain our top priority," reaffirmed Air India, detailing plans for a relief flight departing from Mumbai to accommodate the affected travelers.

Russia's aviation authority confirmed the absence of fire or smoke aboard the aircraft after it taxied to a parking position post-landing, with investigations ongoing to determine the cause of the smoke detector activation.