Stranded for Over 30 Hours: Virgin Atlantic Flight Passengers Stuck at Turkey Airport Await Relief

Diyarbakır Airport, Turkey:  More than 265 passengers aboard Virgin Atlantic flight VS358 from London to Mumbai have been stranded for over 30 hours at Diyarbakır Airport, Turkey, following an emergency medical diversion and subsequent technical issues.

The ordeal began on Wednesday, when the aircraft was forced to land in Diyarbakır due to a medical emergency. Post-landing, a technical fault further delayed the journey, leaving passengers stuck with limited access to food, hygiene, and communication.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Preeti Sharma Menon raised the issue on social media, highlighting passengers' distress:

"Can anyone respond please?! 270 odd pax of #VS358 London Mumbai are stuck in Diyarbakir almost a day now! Unusable toilets, no food, no phone chargers, no communication whatsoever from @VirginAtlantic!"

Responding to the concerns, Virgin Atlantic stated:

"We’re sincerely sorry for the disruption... Our customers are now in overnight hotel accommodation in Turkey, while we work towards a resolution tomorrow."

However, some passengers claim otherwise. Sagar Kochhar, one of the affected travelers, shared:

"We remained on board for five hours, then waited at the airport for 13 more hours. There was no clear communication from the airline about the next steps."

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Ankara assured its involvement, stating that they are in continuous touch with Virgin Atlantic, the Turkish airport authorities, and Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to arrange an alternate flight and ensure the passengers’ safety and comfort.

As of now, stranded passengers are still awaiting confirmation on when they will resume their journey to Mumbai.