Air France Boeing 777 with 282 on board suffered technical failure, then the rescue aircraft sent from Paris was also grounded.
Air France Boeing made emergency landing in Irkutsk after 'smoke in the cockpit'. Picture: Irkutsk Airport
After 48 hours the ‘tourists’ were become exasperated during their enforced stay in Siberia after ‘smoke in the cockpit’ necessitated an emergency landing of their flight from Paris to Shanghai.
All on board disembarked safely in Irkutsk.
On November 12 a new Boeing arrived from Paris to bring the passengers to Shanghai, but failed again.
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On November 12 a new Boeing arrived from Paris to bring the passengers to Shanghai, but failed again. Pictures: Corinne Lee, Agnes Le Coroller
The press-service of the airport said: 'Passengers were put on the plane at about 1 am.
‘The plane was already ready to take off, but at that moment the hydraulic systems failed.
‘Most likely, this happened because of the cold.'
The Air France passengers were returned to Soviet-built Angara Hotel, where due to diplomatic restrictions - they did not have Russian visas - they were prevented from venturing beyond the London pub at the hotel.
Passenger Ann Lomberd: ‘But to admit it, after the second unsuccessful departure, we are already disappointed…'. Pictures: KP
Ill luck saw the first winter frosts and temperatures dropping to -18C.
Local journalists noticed the passengers were dressed in light autumn clothes and shoes.
Passenger Ann Lomberd said: 'When we had to land in Irkutsk, we thought - well, it happens.
‘Especially given that here we were well received, and placed in good hotels.
‘But to admit it, after the second unsuccessful departure, we are already disappointed…
‘We did not sleep all night, so once again had to return to the hotel.’
Many were ‘worried’ about their work and missed business meetings in China, she said.
Stuck in Siberia. Season 2. Pictures: Corinne Lee, Michela Rossetti, Agnes Le Coroller
Among those marooned in Irkutsk were the PR team of Louis Vuitton company headed by art director Michela Rossetti.
Agnes Le Coroller even celebrated her birthday in the lobby of her Irkutsk hotel with colleagues Corinne Lee, Bérengère Laeuffer, Christophe Pelé, and Rossetti.
Lee posted: ‘I am still in Siberia (going on 48 hours). Because we don't have Russian visas, we aren't technically allowed to be here.
‘So we can't take different flights, we can't take our luggage with us, we have been booked hotels but we can't get outside. we are waiting for a new @airfrance plane and a new crew to take us to Shanghai.'
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Passengers were prevented from venturing beyond the London pub at the hotel. Pictures: Corinne Lee
She went on: 'Back in the pub.... in the same clothes I have been wearing for 48 hours.’
The hostelry was perhaps inappropriately named: London pub.
But she said: 'To all people of Irkutsk... thanks for your messages! Your city is beautiful (and cold) pastedGraphic.png’
She shared the gifts passed her by locals.
The passengers kept their sense of humour - posting a video called: ‘Stuck in Siberia - season two’.
Corinne shared the gifts passed her by locals. Pictures: Corinne Lee
Archeologists discovered a new stone bracelet, two sharp pins, a marble ring and fox tooth pendants.
Comments (7)
in Siberia’ after emergency landing
Most big airlines fly Polar Great Circle Routes. They should arrange to 'test-land' their planes in Arctic settings. Being 7 miles up is very cold, but it is not the same conditions as ground-level cold, and high-altitude cruise does not "exercise" the aircraft in the ways that take-off, landing & maneuvering does. I certainly 'would think' that major airlines do perform these 'screening-checks' (without passengers onboard), but perhaps this particular plane was not 'Arctic checked', but was available at the moment.
Alaskans will confirm: Machinery destined for arctic duty, needs to be tested under realistic matching conditions. The US military maintains entire extensive base-complexes in Alaska, specifically to perform 'shake-down' and practice-training under actual Far North conditions. The only thing they could do better, would be to use a facility in Yakutia. ;)
Hydraulics are notoriously susceptible to all manner of variables, but especially cold, and transient operations.
Better for the passengers to flag down the TranSiberian Train, and then catch a Cruise Ship at Vladivostok
Please... read Siberian Times news, they are very interesting