A nightmare unfolded for a group of Indian passengers flying from Mumbai to Manchester after their flight made an emergency landing at Kuwait airport due to an engine fire.
The passengers, stranded for over 13 hours, have since complained of a severe lack of assistance, claiming they were denied basic necessities like food, water, and proper accommodation.
The flight, which was en route from Bahrain to Manchester, was diverted to Kuwait after an alarming engine fire forced the crew to make an emergency landing.
While the emergency was dealt with, the real ordeal for the passengers began after they touched down. With no clear guidance from the airline, many were left in limbo, unsure of what to do next.
The chaos at the airport was captured on a video that quickly spread across social media. In the footage, frustrated passengers from Gulf Air are seen arguing with airport authorities.
The passengers allege they were unfairly treated, claiming that only those holding passports from the European Union, the UK, and the US were given accommodation. In contrast, passengers holding Indian, Pakistani, and other South Asian passports were left without assistance.
One passenger, Arzoo Singh, shared her harrowing experience with the media. She described how the passengers were initially denied lounge access, with authorities telling them that Indian and Pakistani nationals were “not entitled” to the same treatment.
Singh recalled being told that only those holding passports from "entitled" countries would be eligible for a transit visa, which would allow them to leave the airport and stay in a hotel.
She and others were left to plead for help, running after airport staff for nearly two hours before they were allowed into the lounge. Singh added that despite their repeated requests for blankets and food, they were not provided with any assistance, and it took four hours before they were even given water.
In response, the Indian embassy in Kuwait quickly intervened, addressing the issue on social media. The embassy confirmed that a team had been sent to the airport to assist the passengers and coordinate with the airline.
The embassy also clarified that Indian nationals do not qualify for a visa on arrival in Kuwait, which may have contributed to the complications surrounding the passengers' accommodation.
According to the embassy's post, efforts were being made to accommodate passengers in the airport hotel. However, this was not immediately possible due to the ongoing Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, which had booked most of the available facilities. As a result, the passengers were instead placed in two of the airport’s lounges while awaiting further instructions.
The airline, Gulf Air, has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. Passengers, however, were left waiting in the terminal for over 13 hours with little communication from the airline about when they would be able to continue their journey.
One of the passengers, Singh, said that they had been told multiple times throughout the day that they would be heading home soon, only to be left in the dark.
Singh, who spoke about the difficulties faced by passengers, expressed frustration with the ongoing situation. “It has been more than 13 hours,” she said.
“We’ve been told since morning that we would be going home, but nothing has happened. There are people with jobs tomorrow, waiting to reach the UK, and we’ve been trying to contact the embassy for help.”
For the passengers, what started as a routine flight from Bahrain to Manchester soon turned into an exhausting ordeal. The flight had already been flying for nearly two hours before passengers were informed of the engine fire.
The sudden emergency landing left many frightened, and the subsequent delays and lack of support have only added to their distress.
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