More than 250 passengers, including several Indian nationals, have been stranded for over 30 hours at Diyarbakir Airport in southeastern Turkey following an emergency landing by a Virgin Atlantic flight. The aircraft, operating under flight number VS358, had departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 11:40 a.m. local time on April 2 and was due to arrive in Mumbai at 1:40 a.m. IST on April 3. However, a medical emergency on board forced the aircraft to divert and land unexpectedly at Diyarbakir around 7:00 p.m. local time. The emergency landing, described by Virgin Atlantic as a “hard landing,” resulted in the aircraft being grounded due to a technical issue. While the cabin crew was promptly moved to a hotel, passengers were disembarked and left inside a restricted zone at the small regional airport. Diyarbakir Airport, which has limited facilities and functions primarily as a military airbase, was unprepared to accommodate such a large influx of international travelers.
 

Passengers, some of whom included infants, elderly individuals, and pregnant women, reported harrowing conditions. Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) was flooded with posts from distressed family members and activists. They detailed the lack of basic necessities, with only one functional toilet for over 275 passengers, minimal food and water supply, no charging points, and no access to Turkish adapters for their electronic devices. Aam Aadmi Party leader Preeti Sharma-Menon drew attention to the crisis by tagging Indian authorities on X. “It’s been 24 hours and not a single airline representative has met the passengers. There is barely any food, one toilet amongst 275 pax, phones are dead, and no support in sight. Babies, pregnant women, diabetics, and elderly passengers are part of this ordeal,” she wrote.
 

Virgin Atlantic issued a statement on Thursday acknowledging the situation. “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. However, passengers on the ground expressed dissatisfaction with the communication and response from the airline, claiming that no representatives had come to meet them or offer assistance for over a day. Adding to the frustration, some passengers reported that Virgin Atlantic initially suggested they make their own travel arrangements to Istanbul — approximately 1,400 kilometers away — and then find onward connections to Mumbai. This suggestion was largely impractical, given that no direct commercial flights operate between Diyarbakir and India and the remoteness of the region poses significant logistical challenges.
 

Indian Embassy Responds as Passengers Await Solution

The Indian Embassy in Ankara responded swiftly to the growing concerns, issuing an update via X that it was coordinating with Virgin Atlantic, the Diyarbakir Airport Directorate, and Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Through the Mission’s coordination, appropriate care is being extended to the passengers. We are in discussion with the related authorities for the early resolution of the issue and the arrangement of an alternate flight to Mumbai,” the statement read. As the hours dragged on, passengers continued to share grim updates. Sanjay Shah, a concerned family member, posted, “My relative is stuck in Diyarbakir. She was visiting India to meet her ailing father. No food, no water, no assistance. This from a top airline?”
 

X user Satyam Surana, who helped bring the issue to public attention, criticized Virgin Atlantic’s silence and lack of updates. “@VirginAtlantic has brutally failed to give any substantial update & support to the stranded passengers. Women, senior citizens, babies, everyone is stranded and frustrated,” he wrote. Passengers also highlighted the communication gap with local airport authorities, many of whom reportedly spoke limited English and showed signs of frustration over the unexpected arrival of an international flight. Sherilyn Fernandes, whose family member was among the stranded, alleged on X, “The airport staff is furious about the landing, even though it’s not the passengers’ fault. They are even demanding their passports.”
 

After more than 24 hours, there was some relief as hotel accommodations were finally arranged for the stranded passengers. Virgin Atlantic issued another statement indicating that arrangements were being made to fly the passengers to Mumbai on April 4. However, no definitive flight plan was provided, leaving passengers and their families anxious and frustrated. Preeti Sharma-Menon acknowledged the role of Indian consular officials in bringing some relief. “Thanks to the Indian Consular Officer in Turkey, the passengers were moved to a hotel last night. Virgin Atlantic has still not provided a definitive plan on when they will fly home,” she posted on X. The incident has sparked widespread criticism of the airline’s handling of emergency situations and raised concerns about international travel readiness in remote locations. As passengers await repatriation, families and advocacy groups continue to call for accountability and improved crisis response measures from global airlines.