Importance Score: 52 / 100 🔵
Hundreds Stranded After London to Mumbai Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Turkey
Over 200 passengers faced disruption after their London Heathrow to Mumbai flight was diverted, making an emergency landing at a Turkish airport yesterday due to a medical incident involving a distressed passenger. The Virgin Atlantic jet, en route to Mumbai, was forced to land in Diyarbakir, leaving travelers stranded and seeking assistance.
Flight Diversion and Passenger Distress
The Virgin Atlantic flight VS358, which departed Heathrow for Mumbai at 11:40 am, encountered an unforeseen situation when a female passenger reportedly became agitated and began exhibiting signs of distress at 30,000 feet.
According to sources, the passenger was “shouting and screaming,” causing significant concern among crew and passengers. In response to the escalating situation and for the well-being of the passenger, the flight crew made the decision to execute an emergency landing to ensure she could receive immediate medical attention.
Landing at Diyarbakir Airport
The Airbus A350 aircraft subsequently changed course and landed at Diyarbakir Airport in Turkey at approximately 4 pm local time. While primarily a military airbase, Diyarbakir also accommodates some civilian air traffic.
Passengers Report Being Stranded
Passengers communicated their plight, reporting feelings of abandonment and inadequate provisions during the prolonged delay, which extended beyond 16 hours. Initial reports indicated passengers were given only rice.
Concerns for Vulnerable Passengers
Among those affected were families with infants, individuals with diabetes, and elderly travelers. A video circulated showing a pregnant woman, reportedly four months into her term, expressing the collective suffering and appealing for help, stating, “Everyone is suffering. Please help.”
Other passengers, described as frustrated mothers, recounted that they were instructed to leave all carry-on luggage on board the aircraft. An older male passenger voiced the growing sense of weariness and pleaded for intervention, asking, “We’re so tired. Can anyone do something?”
Pictured: Virgin Atlantic flight VIR-358, from London, UK to India, makes an emergency landing at Diyarbakir Airport after a passenger fell ill
The Airbus A350 diverted to Turkey and landed in Diyarbakir (pictured) at about 4pm – primarily a military hub but the site of some civilian flights
Airport Limitations and Technical Issues
Diyarbakir Airport is not optimally equipped to handle large, wide-body passenger airplanes. Compounding the situation, the Virgin Atlantic jet reportedly experienced a technical issue while grounded at the airport, further delaying its departure to India.
Diplomatic Intervention and Accommodation
It is understood that diplomatic channels were activated to arrange expedited 24-hour visas for the stranded passengers. This measure was intended to allow passengers to be accommodated in nearby hotels while awaiting further travel arrangements.
Initial plans suggested passengers might be transferred to a flight to Saudi Arabia later today to make onward connections to their final destination.
Communication Shortcomings
Passengers conveyed dissatisfaction with the level of communication from Virgin Atlantic regarding alternative travel plans and updates on the situation.
Airline Responsibilities Under Regulations
International aviation regulations stipulate that airlines are obligated to provide passengers with essential care, including meals, refreshments, and accommodation, when flights experience substantial delays.
Prior Incident
A comparable incident occurred on December 1 of the previous year when a Gulf Air flight, traveling from Mumbai to Manchester via Bahrain, undertook an emergency landing at Kuwait Airport due to an engine fire. Passengers in that instance faced a 13-hour delay.
Virgin Atlantic Statement
Addressing the recent disruption, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson stated: ‘The VS358 flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai on 2nd April was cancelled due to an urgent medical diversion to Diyarbakır Airport in Turkey, followed by technical inspections of the aircraft.’
The airline emphasized passenger and crew safety as their paramount concern and offered apologies for the resulting disruption. ‘The safety and security of our customers and crew remains our highest priority, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.’
Providing an update, the spokesperson added: ‘With the necessary technical approvals now in place, we will continue flight VS1358 from Diyarbakır Airport at approximately 12:00 local time on Friday 4th April, arriving in Mumbai at approximately 20:30 local.’
Virgin Atlantic confirmed that ‘the majority of our customers were provided with overnight hotel accommodation ahead of their onward journey today’ and reiterated their apologies for the delay and any difficulty experienced. They clarified that the medical emergency involved a passenger who had become ‘severely unwell’.