Virgin Atlantic Passengers Stranded in Turkey for 40 Hours After Emergency Landing
By:
Pilotcenter.net
Pilotcenter.net News reported that a group of passengers traveling from London to Mumbai on a Virgin Atlantic flight found themselves in a distressing situation at Diyarbakır Airport (DIY) in Turkey. Stranded for over 40 hours with limited resources, the travelers, predominantly from India, expressed their dismay at the conditions they were subjected to.
Accounts of the ordeal painted a picture of inadequate food, scarce rest facilities, and uncomfortable seating arrangements. Passengers vented their frustrations on social media, describing the experience as "inhumane" and "awful." Images and videos circulating online captured the exhaustion and frustration of over 250 individuals caught in the unexpected delay.
One passenger shared their disappointment, tweeting, "My family along with 250+ passengers have been inhumanely treated by @virginatlantic. Why is this chaos not being covered in the @BBCWorld or global media??" The unforeseen turn of events unfolded when the aircraft, an Airbus A350, made an emergency landing at Diyarbakır Airport due to a medical emergency onboard.
Following the incident, Virgin Atlantic faced criticism for the handling of the situation. While the Embassy of India stepped in to assist stranded Indian passengers with temporary visas, accommodation, meals, and medical aid, the airline issued an apology for the inconvenience caused. However, the initial statement of apology was later withdrawn.
In a recent update, Virgin Atlantic assured that affected customers were scheduled to depart from Diyarbakır Airport for Mumbai on the rescheduled flight, aiming to alleviate the stress and uncertainty surrounding the prolonged delay. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges air travelers may face and the importance of swift and effective crisis management in such situations.
