Passengers on AI plane to Newark diverted to Kazakhstan safe: Sushma

New Delhi, Aug 25 

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said the passengers of an Air India (AI) flight diverted to Kazakhstan are safe and there was no reason to worry.

She said arrangements for the onward journey of the passengers on the Newark-bound flight are being made.

"AI-191 diverted to Kazakhstan -- Our Ambassador Harsh K. Jain has informed me that all passengers are safe. There is no reason for worry," Sushma Swaraj posted on Twitter.

"The relief plane will land there shortly and take all passengers for onward journey. All those who tweeted in this regard please rest assured."

An Air India Mumbai-Newark flight was diverted to Kazakhstan on Thursday due to operational reasons.

The official said the flight, which took off from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai around 2 a.m., was diverted to Kazakhstan where it landed safely at 7.30 a.m.

Mumbai, Aug 25 (IANS) An Air India Mumbai-Newark flight was diverted to Kazakhstan on Thursday due to operational reasons, an official said here.

The official said the flight -- AI 191 - which took off from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here around 2 a.m. was diverted to Kazakhstan where it landed safely at 7.30 a.m.

All passengers and crew on board are safe and the Boeing 777 is being inspected by a team of engineers at Aktobe airport.

The official denied that there was any fire or smoke emanating from the aircraft and said the diversion was due to "operational reasons".

Giving an update of the flight status, Air India tweeted: "AIUpdate: #AI191 will take off from #Kazakhstan (AKX) at 2030 Hrs local time. ETA at #Newark (EWR) is 2230 Hrs LT." 

It also posted: "#AI191 Delta will take off from #Delhi to #Kazakhstan (AKX) at 1500 Hrs IST. ETA at #Kazakhstan (AKX) is 1830 Hrs LT."

It also said that Air India chairman A. Lohani had spoken to the pilot and all people on board are satisfied.

"AI CMD, Mr Lohani spoke to Capt.Aroob. The pax are satisfied and happy that the flt safely landed in #Kazakhstan."