Over 250 Passengers Stranded in Turkey as London-Mumbai Virgin Atlantic Flight Faces Delays

Ankara/Mumbai– More than 250 passengers aboard a London-Mumbai Virgin Atlantic flight have been stranded at Turkey’s Diyarbakir airport for over 40 hours after an emergency medical diversion led to an unexpected halt. Many of the passengers, including Indian nationals, have taken to social media to express their frustration over the prolonged delay and inadequate facilities.

Virgin Atlantic’s flight VS358 from London to Mumbai was diverted to Diyarbakir on April 2 due to a medical emergency. However, after landing, the aircraft developed a technical issue, further delaying the journey. The airline has assured passengers that their safety remains a priority and has provided hotel accommodations and refreshments.

In a statement, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said, “Subject to receiving the necessary technical approvals, we will continue flight VS1358 to Mumbai from Diyarbakir Airport at 12:00 local time on Friday, April 4. If approvals are not received, we plan instead to provide a bus transfer for customers to an alternative aircraft at another Turkish airport to complete their journey.”

Despite these assurances, stranded passengers have reported severe inconvenience. Some claimed there was only one functioning toilet for over 300 people, while others spoke of enduring cold temperatures without adequate blankets. Visuals from the airport show passengers resting on seats, visibly exhausted and distressed.

The Indian Embassy in Ankara has acknowledged the situation and stated that it is closely monitoring developments. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has reiterated that it is actively working to resolve the issue and ensure passengers reach their destination at the earliest.