Special Correspondent
Mumbai: Thanks to the swift intervention of Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, 260 Indian passengers stranded in Turkey have returned home safely. The passengers, who were on board Virgin Atlantic flight VS358 from London to Mumbai, were left stranded after the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at the Diyarbakir military airbase in Turkey due to a medical emergency. Following several hurdles, the special relief flight finally landed safely at Mumbai Airport at 8:30 PM on Friday.
During the journey, one of the passengers required urgent medical attention, prompting an emergency landing at Diyarbakir — a small military airbase not equipped to handle large commercial aircraft. A hard landing resulted in a technical fault in the landing gear, making the aircraft unfit for onward travel. With limited civilian facilities and poor connectivity at the airbase, the stranded Indian passengers faced several challenges.
As soon as Minister Mohol was informed of the situation, he acted immediately. He coordinated with senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, engaged in discussions with Virgin Atlantic representatives, and established a special task force in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Turkey.
Due to his efforts, urgent arrangements were made for the passengers, including accommodation, meals, and medical services. Special attention was given to pregnant women and young children. Although Virgin Atlantic attempted to send a replacement aircraft, the Turkish military denied landing permission at the military airbase.
Despite these complications, Mohol remained determined. He continued active follow-ups with Turkish authorities, eventually securing a three-day transit visa for the passengers and permission for hotel accommodations. With coordinated efforts between multiple agencies, a special Virgin Atlantic aircraft was finally cleared for takeoff from Turkey.
Once the aircraft safely landed in Mumbai, Minister Murlidhar Mohol expressed relief and said, “I was personally monitoring the situation and remained in constant touch with all concerned authorities to ensure the safety of our citizens. It is our duty to stand by every Indian in distress. I’m truly satisfied that all passengers have returned home safely.”
