A group of Indian passengers flying from Mumbai to Manchester were left stranded at Kuwait airport for over 13 hours after their flight was forced to make an emergency landing due to an engine fire. Passengers on the Gulf Air flight were left in distress as they faced what they describe as severe mistreatment, including a lack of food, water, and accommodation, as well as claims of bias against travelers from Southeast Asia.
The ordeal began when the Gulf Air flight, which had been traveling from Bahrain to Manchester after departing Mumbai, experienced an emergency and was diverted to Kuwait. The engine fire caused significant concern, and the flight was forced to land unexpectedly. While the airline provided assistance to passengers from the European Union, the UK, and the US, Indian, Pakistani, and other Southeast Asian passport holders alleged that they were not given the same treatment.
In a video that surfaced on social media, passengers were seen arguing with airport authorities, with many expressing frustration over the lack of accommodation and basic necessities. One of the passengers, Arzoo Singh, shared her experience with NDTV, stating that airport officials told them that only “entitled passport holders” – meaning those from the EU, UK, and the US – were eligible for assistance. Singh claimed that when passengers requested lounge access, they were told that only those with a transit visa would be allowed to leave the airport for a hotel. The authorities reportedly ignored repeated requests for blankets, food, and water, leaving passengers without basic comforts for several hours.
“The treatment was horrendous. We ran behind the authorities for hours, and only after much persistence were we granted lounge access,” said Singh. “We asked for water, food, and blankets, but we got nothing for the first four hours.”
The Indian embassy in Kuwait responded swiftly, taking up the matter with Gulf Air. The embassy posted on social media, assuring the passengers that a team was at the airport to assist them. The embassy also clarified that Indian nationals do not qualify for a visa-on-arrival in Kuwait, adding that government offices were closed due to the ongoing GCC Summit in the country.
Despite this, passengers, including Singh, expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation. “It has been over 13 hours, and we’re still waiting. We’ve been told repeatedly that we’ll be heading home soon, but nothing is happening,” Singh said. “We are all facing inconveniences, with some passengers needing to go back to work and others waiting to meet their families in the UK.”
The passengers also revealed that they had been told about the flight’s emergency landing only 20 minutes before it happened. Many were concerned about the long delay and lack of communication. “After we saw the engine on fire, we feared for our safety. Now, we are just left stranded here with no real support,” Singh added.
While Gulf Air has yet to release an official statement, the Indian embassy has reassured passengers that they are working to resolve the situation, including efforts to secure accommodations at an airport hotel. However, as the situation remains unresolved, passengers continue to wait at the terminal, hoping for some form of relief.
The incident has drawn attention to issues of passenger rights and treatment during emergencies, with many calling for better handling of situations where passengers are stranded due to unforeseen circumstances.
Sources By Agencies
