42 Hours On, Around 250 Passengers Flying Virgin Atlantic's London-Mumbai Remain Stranded At Turkey's Diyarbakir Airport (VIDEOS)

Ankara: Over 250 passengers on a London-Mumbai Virgin Atlantic flight are stuck in Turkey's Diyarbakir airport for more than 42 hours. Among the stranded passengers, many are Indians. Virgin Atlantic’s flight VS358, which departed from London’s Heathrow Airport at 11:40 am on Wednesday for Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, was diverted mid-air after a medical emergency was reported.

The flight was diverted to Diyarbakir Airport on April 2. As per the spokesperson of Virgin Atlantic, the flight will be continued to Mumbai on Friday.

Ordeal Narrated By Passengers:

Around 250 India bound Virgin Atlantic passengers stuck for over 30 hours at Turkish military airport.. no food, no toilet or charging points.

Flight #VS358 from London to Mumbai made an emergency stop in Diyarbakır, Turkey after a medical scare.. later claimed the flight had… pic.twitter.com/CQMtTEqwFM

— Stranger (@amarDgreat) April 4, 2025

"The safety and security of our customers and crew remains our highest priority, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. Subject to receiving the necessary technical approvals, we will continue flight VS1358 to Mumbai from Diyarbakir Airport at 12:00 local time on Friday 4th April," the Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said as reported by NDTV.

The airline said that it would provide a bus service to customers to an alternate aircraft in Turkey if approvals are not received.

Over 300 Indians and British citizens are held trapped in Turkey in an awful situation. @VirginAtlantic
Doing nothing to help the people, 1 toilet for 300 people and held in a confined space for over 15 hours. @VirginAtlantic staff nowhere to be seen. My family is caught up. pic.twitter.com/aANXY5l07I

— Hanuman Dass (@HanumanDassGD) April 3, 2025

"In the meantime, passengers are being provided with overnight hotel accommodation and refreshments in Turkey, while we work towards a resolution, and we will keep all customers informed as soon as new updates become available," Virgin Atlantic said as quoted by the media house.

However, passengers took to social media and highlighted the issues faced by them. Some passengers even claimed that there was a single toilet for almost 300 people.

Meanwhile, all stranded 99 Indian passengers were issued temporary visas yesterday night, the Indian Embassy in Turkey said on Friday.

"Update: Embassy has been constantly pursuing the matter relating to the emergency landing of Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Mumbai at Diyarbakir Airport in Turkiye. Thanks to our efforts, all stranded 99 Indian passengers were issued temporary visas yesterday night. Hotel accommodation, meals & medical assistance provided by authorities," the Embassy said.

“The Airline is arranging a Flight No. VS1358, which is departing at 12:00 PM from DIY Diyarbakir Airport,” it added.

The Free Press Journal contacted Virgin Atlantic but did not receive any response from the airline.