 "‘1 toilet for 300 people’: The ordeal of Indians on Virgin Atlantic flight stranded in Turkey for 40 hours")
More than 250 passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Mumbai, many of them Indian, were stranded at Turkey’s Diyarbakir Airport (DIY) for over 40 hours.
The ordeal began when the A350-1000 aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing due to a technical fault.
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Once on the ground, the aircraft encountered a further technical issue, which was being looked into for hours.
Since then, several passengers have spoken out about their experience, with some calling it an “awful situation.”
In this story, we explore what led to the emergency landing of the flight, what the passengers went through, and what the airline said in its statement.
What happened to the Virgin Atlantic flight?
Virgin Atlantic flight VS358, which had departed from London Heathrow for Mumbai, was diverted to Diyarbakır Airport and will continue its journey to Mumbai today.
Notably, the diversion was caused by a medical emergency on board, and passengers were stranded at the airport for more than 40 hours.
The airline confirmed that after receiving the necessary technical clearances, the flight was supposed to leave from Diyarbakır at 12:00 local time and continue to Mumbai.
In a statement, Virgin Atlantic said the flight, which had been en route from London Heathrow to Mumbai on April 2, was cancelled following a medical diversion to Diyarbakır in **Turkey**.
After landing, the A350-1000 aircraft encountered a technical issue, which was later resolved.
“We are actively exploring all options, including the operation of an alternative aircraft, to ensure customers can reach Mumbai as soon as possible," the airline said in a statement earlier.
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View All‘One toilet for 300 people’: The ordeal of stranded passengers in Turkey
A stranded passenger told PTI that they had all been forced to sit on the floor, with no blankets provided.
“Also, there is no vegetarian food available,” the passenger added.
In an updated statement, Virgin Atlantic said passengers had been given overnight hotel accommodation and refreshments during their time in Turkey.
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One passenger, Hanuman Dass, posted on X that more than 300 Indian and British nationals had been caught in an “awful situation.”
He said his own family was among those stranded.
“Doing nothing to help the people, one 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,” he wrote.
My family along with 250+ passengers have been inhumanely treated by @virginatlantic .
— Hanuman Dass (@HanumanDassGD) April 3, 2025
Why is this chaos not being covered in the @BBCWorld or global media?? Over 30 hours confined at a military airport in Turkey.
In contact with the @ukinturkiye to please more pressure needed pic.twitter.com/TIIHgE07bb
Sumit Sheth, another passenger travelling to Mumbai to visit his father, told The Indian Express, “We were jolted as the plane hit the runway.”
Initially, they were told that alternative arrangements would be made and the flight would resume shortly. However, within three hours, they were informed that the aircraft had suffered a technical fault, with damage to its tyres during the landing, according to the report.
The passengers, which included infants, elderly travellers, pregnant women, and people with medical conditions, faced severe discomfort, IE reported. The terminal reportedly had just two washrooms for around 260 passengers, resulting in long queues and unhygienic conditions, one passenger told the publication.
Passengers also alleged that while they were left in the terminal, the flight crew had been given hotel rooms.
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 .
— loveena tandon (@loveenatandon) April 3, 2025
It’s been 20hours without any concrete communication from airline or food or… pic.twitter.com/RE4h2JiHYe
“We heard that the crew was given a place to rest, but no one cared about us, even the kids and the elderly. We were treated like prisoners, confined to the terminal,” another traveller, who was flying with his eight-month-old baby, told The Indian Express.
“It has been 24 hours and not a single airline representative has met the passengers. They have barely any food, one toilet amongst 275 pax, phones running out of batteries as they do not have Turkish adapters. There are babies, pregnant women, diabetics and old people in this ordeal,” AAP leader Preeti Sharma-Menon posted on X, calling for government intervention.
What did the airline and Indian Embassy say?
In a statement, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said, “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.”
“If approvals are not received, we plan instead to provide a bus transfer for customers to an alternative aircraft at another Turkish airport tomorrow to complete our customers’ journey to Mumbai,” the airline said. “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,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Turkey also issued an update. In its statement, the embassy said, “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.”
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.
— IndiaInTürkiye (@IndiaInTurkiye) April 4, 2025
Thanks to our efforts, all stranded 99 Indian passengers were issued temporary visas yesterday night.…
“Thanks to our efforts, all stranded 99 Indian passengers were issued temporary visas yesterday night. Hotel accommodation, meals & medical assistance provided by authorities. The Airline is arranging a Flight No. VS1358, which is departing at 12:00 PM from DIY Diyarbakir Airport.”
With inputs from agencies
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