London To Mumbai Virgin Atlantic Flight Stuck In Turkey For 40 Hours, Passengers Get Limited Facilities

More than 250 passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Mumbai have been stranded at Turkey's Diyarbakir Airport for over 40 hours after their aircraft made an emergency landing, according to an NDTV report. The VS358 flight, which departed from London on April 2, was forced to divert due to an "urgent medical emergency," according to an airline spokesperson.

After landing, the aircraft developed a technical issue and is currently being inspected. "The safety and security of our customers and crew remains our highest priority, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused," the Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said.

Photo Credit: Virgin Atlantic's X

The airline has stated that, subject to technical approvals, flight VS1358 is scheduled to continue its journey to Mumbai at 12:00 local time on Friday, April 4. If the approvals are not received in time, arrangements will be made for passengers to be transported by bus to another Turkish airport, where an alternative aircraft will take them to their destination.

In the meantime, Virgin Atlantic has provided passengers with hotel accommodations and refreshments. "We are working towards a resolution and will keep all customers informed as soon as new updates become available," the airline assured.

However, several stranded passengers have raised concerns on social media about the difficulties they are facing at the airport. Many have complained about inadequate facilities, with some reporting that only a single toilet is available for the 300-odd passengers. A passenger told news agency PTI that they were not given blankets, despite the single-digit temperatures. Visuals from the airport show passengers resting on seats, appearing exhausted and distressed due to the prolonged wait.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson confirmed in the same report that passengers have been accommodated in hotels while the airline continues to work on a solution. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Ankara has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation.