Distress cries have been made on social media after more than 250 passengers aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Mumbai were left stuck at a remote military airfield in Turkey for almost 40 hours.
The travellers have criticised the airline for placing them in “inhumane” and “awful” conditions for two days at a poorly equipped airport without enough food or necessities.
On April 2, Virgin Atlantic flight VS358 was due to arrive in Mumbai at 8.10 p.m. BST after departing London’s Heathrow airport at 11.40 a.m. BST.
However, a medical problem on board caused the jet to make an unplanned arrival at the Diyarbakır airport in Turkey at approximately 5 p.m. BST.
Virgin Atlantic said: “The VS358 flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai on 2nd April was cancelled due to an urgent medical diversion to Diyarbakir airport in Turkey and subsequent technical inspections required.”
“The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
There was a mechanical problem with the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft after the emergency landing because it had made a “hard landing” and was considered unable to fly.
The travellers who were left stranded at the airport claimed they were not provided with any information regarding the completion of their trip to India.
The airline announced that it will start at 10 a.m. BST on Friday and the flight will continue its journey from Diyarbakır to Mumbai.
“With the necessary technical approvals now in place, we will continue flight VS1358 from Diyarbakır Airport at approximately noon local time on Friday, 4th April, arriving in Mumbai at approximately 20:30 local,” it said.
On social media, a large number of travellers voiced their annoyance and anguish about the situation, claiming they were being kept in a restricted section of the airport with few amenities.
One traveler reported that there was only one restroom for hundreds of people, inadequate food, and no pillows or blankets. Mumbai lawmaker Preet Sharma Menon, who was aboard the flight, reported that among the stranded passengers were elderly people and pregnant women.
“It’s been 24 hours and not a single airline representative has met the passengers,” she said. “They have barely any food, one toilet amongst 275 pax, phones running out of batteries as they don’t have Turkish adapters. There are babies, pregnant women, diabetics and old people in this ordeal.”
Virgin said, “The majority of our customers were provided with overnight hotel accommodation ahead of their onward journey today”.
“We’d like to sincerely apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused.”
The Turkish foreign ministry, the airline, and the Diyarbakir airport administration were all contacted by the Indian embassy in Turkey.
“Through the mission’s coordination, appropriate care is being extended to the passengers,” the embassy said on X.
“We are in discussion with the related authorities for the early resolution of the issue and the arrangement of an alternate flight to Mumbai for the stranded passengers.