Passengers aboard Virgin Atlantic flight VS358, originally bound for Mumbai from London Heathrow, are expected to resume their journey today, pending final technical clearance, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson confirmed. The flight was cancelled on April 2 after it had to make a landing at Diyarbakir Airport in Turkey because of a medical emergency on board. Following the landing, the aircraft needed technical inspections to make sure it’s safe to fly again, leaving 265 passengers – mostly Indians – stranded for nearly 50 hours.

According to a flight tracking website, the aeroplane took off at 11:40 BST from London and landed in Turkey at 19:45 local time (UTC+3).

Passengers will be flown to Mumbai today: Virgin Atlantic

The company said in a statement that they are exploring all the possibilities to fly passengers to Mumbai, adding that if they don’t receive clearances, they will take passengers to another Turkish airport by bus, from where they will board an alternative flight to Mumbai later today.

“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 statement read. 

It added, “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.”

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Indian Embassy in Turkey confirmed the development, adding that it is in constant contact with the airline and assured that those stuck in the Middle East country will be flown to Mumbai today. 

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

It added, “Thanks to our efforts, all 99 stranded Indian passengers were issued temporary visas yesterday night.  Hotel accommodation,  meals & medical assistance provided by authorities.”

The company, earlier, admitted that its aircraft had to land at the airport in Turkey and undergo technical inspections. “The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority and we apologise for the inconvenience caused. We are urgently looking at all available options to ensure our customers can continue their journeys to Mumbai as quickly as possible, while our engineers carry out the necessary technical inspections of the aircraft…,” it had said in an earlier statement. 

‘1 toilet for 300 people’: Passenger shares horrifying experience

“We have been stranded here in the Turkish airport since yesterday. We don’t know which one. I guess my baby is the youngest passenger on the flight. She is five months old. I have been requesting a stroller since we landed,” a passenger said as she cradled her child.

“Doing nothing to help the people, 1 toilet for 300 people, and held in a confined space for over 15 hours. Virgin Atlantic staff nowhere to be seen. My family is caught up,” another passenger stuck in Turkey said. 

A third passenger took to Twitter (now X) and wrote, “I am stuck in Turkey from flight VS358.”