Kuwait: Indian travelers aboard a Mumbai-Manchester flight found themselves stranded at Kuwait Airport for over 14 hours. Passengers reported being without food, water, or assistance during this prolonged ordeal.

The incident occurred when a Gulf Air flight traveling from Mumbai to Manchester made an emergency landing at Kuwait International Airport due to a technical issue. The plane had to land after smoke was reported coming from one of the engines. However, the passengers, many of whom were Indian nationals, stated that they received no support or facilities during the delay. As a result, they were left to wait at the airport without basic necessities for more than 14 hours.

Severe Discomfort During the Wait

Due to the engine malfunction, the flight had to make an emergency landing, prompting an extended wait for the 60 Indian passengers, who were left without adequate seating, food, or water. The passengers complained of mistreatment and lack of proper attention. Despite the long wait, Gulf Air has yet to provide any updates or solutions regarding the situation.

Challenges for Indian Passengers at the Airport

As Indian nationals in Kuwait are not eligible for a visa on arrival (VoA), they were unable to leave the airport, even though the Indian embassy in Kuwait was making efforts to assist them. Their difficulties were worsened by the unavailability of airport hotel accommodations, as many were fully booked for the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting. The embassy did manage to arrange for the stranded passengers to stay in the airport lounge.

No Assistance for Indian Nationals

Shivansh, a software engineer among the stranded passengers, shared his frustration on social media, explaining that British passport holders were accommodated in hotels with visa-on-arrival facilities, while Indian passport holders were left without any help or provisions. "We were abandoned without food or any assistance," he wrote.

Another passenger, Sai Samrat Anandapu shared his experience on Twitter. He explained that their flight from Hyderabad to Manchester had a layover in Bahrain, and after a fire broke out in the plane's engine, they were diverted to Kuwait. He reported waiting for over six hours without any support, while only British and GCC citizens were provided with assistance. Despite traveling with children and elderly passengers, they were given no updates about the flight to Manchester and were left without any arrangements to freshen up.

Embassy's Efforts to Help

In response to the situation, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait issued a statement on Sunday evening, assuring that efforts were underway to provide accommodation to the stranded passengers in airport hotels.