
What was supposed to be a routine London-to-Mumbai journey on Virgin Atlantic’s Airbus A350-1000 has spiraled into a shocking crisis. Over 250 passengers remain stranded at a military airport in Diyarbakır, Turkey, two days after the flight was forced to land due to a medical emergency.
However, a technical malfunction has grounded the aircraft ever since, and the airline has failed to provide a clear plan or timeline for evacuation.
Desperate Conditions: Hunger, Exhaustion, and Silence
Passengers were originally due to arrive in Mumbai at 1:40 AM on Thursday. Instead, they’ve been left with minimal food, a single working toilet for 275 people, and virtually no communication from Virgin Atlantic.
Social media is flooded with pleas for intervention. One user posted: “More than 200 Indian passengers, including a pregnant woman, are stranded without water and basic facilities. Please intervene urgently.”
Received a distress call from a passenger on @VirginAtlantic flight VS358 from #London to #Mumbai , now stranded in #DiyarbakirAirport in #Turkey - apparently a military facility - emergency landing .
It’s been 20hours without any concrete communication from airline or food or… pic.twitter.com/RE4h2JiHYe
Voices from the Ground
Among the stranded is the family of AAP Mumbai chief Preeti Sharma Menon, who confirmed her sister and niece are caught in the chaos. She described conditions as “inhuman”—with babies, the elderly, and diabetics suffering due to lack of food, medicine, and even phone chargers. Most passengers can’t communicate with airport staff, who reportedly do not speak English.
Virgin Atlantic's Response: Too Little, Too Late?
Virgin Atlantic finally issued a statement promising to move passengers to a hotel for rest. According to the airline, a flight is planned to depart around noon local time, pending technical approvals. If not, passengers will be transported by bus to another airport—an option many find unacceptable given the stress they've endured.
Embassy Involvement and Diplomatic Intervention
The Indian Embassy in Turkey has stepped in and claims it is in constant contact with Virgin Atlantic, Turkish officials, and Indian authorities. However, tangible results for passengers have yet to be seen.
It was a miserable experience to reach India from London via Turkey for nearly 50 flyers (most of them Indians) from London. @IndiGo6E connecting flight from Istanbul to Mumbai was delayed by 16 hrs due to 'technical reasons'. With not enough chairs in the space they were asked… pic.twitter.com/7gmbLyXg86
— S. Lalitha (@Lolita_TNIE) March 25, 2024
This Is Not a Delay—It’s a Humanitarian Crisis
What started as a routine detour for a medical emergency has turned into a logistical and humanitarian failure. Passengers are still trapped, with limited resources and no clear exit.
This incident has sparked widespread anger, raising questions about Virgin Atlantic's crisis preparedness and passenger safety protocols. As the world watches, the hope is that action will replace apologies before another day of distress unfolds.
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