Virgin Atlantic London to Mumbai Flight with A350 Emergency Landing at Military Airport

MUMBAI- A Virgin Atlantic (VS) flight, VS358, from London (LHR) to Mumbai (BOM) was forced to make an emergency landing at Diyarbakir Airport (DIY) in Turkey, leaving more than 200 Indian passengers stranded.

The travelers had been waiting for over 16 hours with minimal updates from Virgin Atlantic (VS) regarding their continued journey, as per News18.

Photo: Virgin Atlantic

Emergency Landing Details

The Virgin Atlantic (VS) flight, with registration G-VTEA, landed at Diyarbakir Airport (DIY) due to a medical emergency involving a passenger experiencing a panic attack. Reports also indicate that the plane may have also developed a technical issue during landing.

The Virgin Atlantic (VS) aircraft, an Airbus A350, landed at Diyarbakir Airport (DIY), a remote facility that primarily functions as a military base and isn’t adequately equipped to accommodate large commercial planes. This has created additional challenges in getting the passengers back on their journey.

Photo- FlightRadar24

Passenger Hardships

Stranded travelers face difficult conditions at the airport.

Another passenger explained their restricted movement: “We’ve not received accommodations, and we can’t even leave the airport as this is a military base.”

Many passengers report receiving minimal updates from Virgin Atlantic (VS) regarding alternative travel arrangements to complete their journey to Mumbai (BOM).

Maharashtra Government Response

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reportedly assured support to the stranded passengers. According to X (formerly Twitter) user Satyam Surana, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has appointed a nodal officer to manage the situation and coordinate relief efforts.

Passenger Rights During Delays

Under international aviation regulations, airlines are required to provide food, refreshments, and accommodation when flights are significantly delayed. The Montreal Convention and various air passenger rights frameworks outline compensation requirements for stranded passengers.

However, emergency landings at airports not served by the airline often create complications in providing immediate assistance. Check the Virgin Atlantic site for help in delay situations here.

Photo: Eurospot

Current Status

Virgin Atlantic (VS) has yet to publicly announce its plan for transporting the stranded passengers to their final destination in Mumbai (BOM).

Diyarbakir Airport (DIY) primarily serves domestic flights within Turkey and has limited international facilities, making it challenging to accommodate a large number of international travelers.

Passengers continue to urge both the airline and government authorities to expedite arrangements for their onward journey as the difficult situation approaches the 24-hour mark.

Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Gulf Air, A9C-FA, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72241856

Similar Incident

A Gulf Air flight from Mumbai to Manchester via Bahrain made an emergency landing at Kuwait Airport on December 1, 2024, after experiencing an engine fire. The incident left Indian passengers stranded for 13 hours without basic amenities amid allegations of discriminatory treatment.

The Indian embassy in Kuwait quickly intervened, establishing immediate contact with Gulf Air to address the passengers’ situation. A video capturing heated confrontations between passengers and airport authorities spread rapidly across social media platforms, showcasing the tense atmosphere.

Passengers accused Gulf Air of nationality-based discrimination, claiming that only travelers with European Union, United Kingdom, and United States passports received accommodation assistance. Those holding Indian, Pakistani, and Southeast Asian passports allegedly received no support during the extended delay.

Arzoo Singh, one of the affected passengers, shared her experience with NDTV, stating that airport authorities explicitly refused assistance to Indian and Pakistani passengers, declaring they were not “entitled passport holders.” Officials reportedly informed stranded travelers that hotel accommodations would only be provided to those eligible for transit visas.

Singh described spending two hours attempting to secure basic necessities. The passengers received no water during the first four hours of their ordeal. After persistent requests, they eventually gained lounge access but continued struggling to obtain essentials including blankets and food.

According to FlightRadar24 data, Gulf Air operates the Mumbai-Manchester route with a three-hour layover in Bahrain, using different flight numbers for each segment.

The Mumbai to Bahrain leg (GF65) utilizes an A321 aircraft departing BOM at 9:35 PM and arriving in BAH at 11:15 PM local time. The Bahrain to Manchester segment (GF5) operates on a Boeing 787 departing BAH at 2:10 AM UTC and arriving in Manchester at 6:35 AM local time.

The emergency landing involved a 6.5-year-old Boeing 787 registered as A9C-FB, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News

The post Virgin Atlantic London to Mumbai Flight with A350 Emergency Landing at Military Airport appeared first on Aviation A2Z.