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A plane from London Heathrow with 311 people on board has been forced to make an emergency landing in hostile Russia this morning.
The Boeing 777-39L(ER) is understood to have suffered engine failure and requested landing at the city of Nizhnevartovsk in Siberia.
Footage shows the Air China jet – bound for Beijing – landing in the remote city in the Russian autonomous region of Khanty-Mansi.
The aircraft touched down at 8.17am local time after running into trouble over Russian airspace.
It is still unclear how many British citizens there are on board the Air China flight, but their families back home now face an agonising wait on their fate.
An eyewitness told Russia new outlet, Baza, which has links to the Russian security services: ‘Airport services were on high alert for the unexpected guest.
‘It is not every year that such a flight from the UK arrives in Nizhnevartovsk.
‘But they prepared quickly – a suitable boarding ramp was immediately brought to the plane. What happens next is still unknown.
‘Most likely, the company will send a reserve aircraft along with technicians and parts, since local technicians definitely will not be able to repair such a large airliner in Nizhnevartovsk.’
After several hours of waiting on the plane, passengers were placed in the international terminal of the airport.
It is understood that a reserve Air China flight is flying to Russia to transport them.
Nizhnevartovsk lies 1,435 miles east of Moscow – and the nearest British embassy, which could assist the stranded passengers.
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Their plight comes against the backdrop of the most volatile chapter in the relations between the UK and Russia since the Cold War.
The current Foreign Office travel advice is to avoid trips to the country at all cost amid Vladimri Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Metro has contacted the Foreign Office for a statement.
Is it possible to travel to Russia currently?
Direct flights from the UK to Russia do not operate anymore, shortly afer the start of the war, and the Foreign Office advises against all travel to the country.
There is also limited government support on the ground. The British Embassy in Moscow and British Consulate in Ekaterinburg are open, but the situation could change at short notice.
A statement on the government website says: ‘FCDO advises against all travel to Russia due to the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine, including:
- security incidents, such as drone attacks, and Russian air defence activity
- lack of flights to return to the UK
- limited ability for the UK government to provide support
There is also a high likelihood terrorists will try to carry out attacks, including in major cities.’
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