Stranded and neglected: Indian passengers face13-hour nightmare in Kuwait after flight diversion

Published: 2 December 2024

Agencies
Kuwait City

Indian passengers traveling from Mumbai to Manchester were left stranded for 13 hours at Kuwait Airport after their Gulf Air flight GF005 was unexpectedly diverted. According to Indian media reports, passengers alleged they were left without food or assistance, sparking outrage and raising concerns about the airline’s handling of the situation.

Videos circulating on social media show distressed passengers engaging in heated exchanges with airport authorities. According to a viral tweet, the stranded individuals accused Gulf Air of discriminatory treatment, claiming that only travelers from the European Union, the UK, and the US were provided hotel accommodations.

The Indian embassy in Kuwait quickly intervened, coordinating with local officials to address the passengers’ needs. “A team from the embassy is at the airport to assist and liaise with the airline,” the embassy stated on X. “Two waiting rooms have been arranged for Indian and Pakistani nationals, and efforts are underway to secure hotel accommodations. However, current availability is limited due to the ongoing GCC Summit,” it said.

The lack of a visa-on-arrival facility for Indian travelers in Kuwait further complicated the embassy’s efforts to secure accommodations.

The flight, which had departed from Bahrain after originating in Mumbai, encountered an emergency mid-air, report-edly due to an engine fire. Passengers, after nearly two hours of flight time, were abruptly informed of an emergency landing, receiving the announcement only 20 minutes before touching down in Kuwait.

Indian authorities continued to work closely with airport officials to ensure the welfare of the stranded passengers, which includes elderly individuals and children. Meanwhile, arrangements were made to resume the flight’s onward journey within the next nine hours.