A plane from London Heathrow with 311 people on board made an emergency landing in Russia early today.
The Boeing 777-39L(ER) suffered ‘engine failure’ and requested landing at Nizhnevartovsk in Siberia.
Footage shows the Air China aircraft – bound for Beijing – landing in the remote city in Russia’s Khanty-Mansi autonomous region.
It was not immediately clear how many British citizens were aboard the stricken plane.
The flight had left Heathrow at 10:43pm, and landed at 8:17am local time in Nizhnevartovsk – 3:17am UK time.
The Russian authorities refused to allow the passengers off the plane – on flight CA856/CCA856 – following the emergency landing, said reports.
Russian sources said there were 265 on board, including 15 crew, not 311 as earlier reported.
There was ‘no panic’ on the aircraft, reported Baza news outlet.
One engine reportedly failed on the Air China flight to Beijing with 20 children on board.
Russian sources gave different figures for the numbers on board but Dmitry Koschenko, mayor of Russian city Nizhnevartovsk, said the total was 267 including the crew.
He suggested there were delays in allowing the passengers to clear the FSB-controlled border post – which was why they were being held on the aircraft.
He said: ‘Early this morning, a flight from London to Beijing made an emergency landing. There are 267 people on board the aircraft, including the crew.
‘At the moment, the crew and passengers are still on board the aircraft because a decision is being made on whether [they will be allowed] to cross the state border.
‘Today, the issue of their temporary accommodation at our airport’s international terminal is being resolved. And, accordingly, to wait for the reserve aircraft, which should depart for the passengers in the near future.
‘We are in complete control of the situation, that is, we are monitoring it. With the airport management with the government of our district, we are resolving all issues today as necessary. We will, of course, make additional decisions.’
An eyewitness narrated the incident to the Baza news outlet, which has links to the Russian security services.
They said: ‘Airport services were on high alert for the unexpected guest.
‘It’s 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.’
While British and other Western airlines no longer overfly Russia due to Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, Chinese airlines flying to and from the UK do cross Russian airspace.
The Baza report warned that the passengers could face hardships after landing in the oil city, which is 1,435 miles east of Moscow.
‘It is also unknown where such a large number of passengers will stay during the time the reserve aircraft is en route,’ said the report.
‘It will be difficult to fit all the people in the local airport’s holding area.’
If visa rules are waived and access to local hotels is given, British passengers will be unable to use their credit cards, which do not operate in Russia due to sanctions.
Current Foreign Office travel advice is to avoid all trips to Putin’s country, with warnings foreigners can face detention or prosecution for activities seen as ‘against Russian interests’.
The report said the pilots chose Nizhnevartovsk ‘because the weather there was perfect at that moment, and the runway is very long, making it the best option among nearby airports for such a large airliner.’
The Ural Transport Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the emergency landing.
Russian defence ministry TV channel Zvezda said of the aircraft’s emergency landing that there had been ‘a malfunction in one of its engines’.
The channel reported: ‘The Air China crew issued a PAN urgency signal and requested a descent. With one engine operational, the plane landed on the runway and taxied to the apron.
‘The controllers responded promptly to the received signal and quickly provided the crew with necessary information about the nearest alternate airfields capable of accepting the aircraft.’
‘Air China reportedly dispatched a reserve aircraft to Nizhnevartovsk.
There were hopes the passengers could continue to Beijing at 4pm London time.
Kremlin-friendly Shot media outlet said there were ‘no plans’ to allow the passengers into the terminal. It also added that neither food nor drink was supplied to the plane.
‘Air China has not requested water or food for the passengers,’ said the report. ‘They are eating what is still available on board.
At the same time, all necessary services for passengers in Nizhnevartovsk are ready to be provided.
‘The plane’s air conditioning and toilets are also working. Currently, the doors of the Boeing 777 liner are closed, and the boarding stairs have not been brought to the plane.’