'Pressure by authorities got Virgin Atlantic to fly passengers back to Mumbai'

Aam Aadmi Party AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon on Saturday said that pressure from passengers Indian authorities and media finally got Virgin Atlantic to rescue passengers stranded in Turkey for 40 hoursMore than 250 Virgin Atlantic passengers including Indians landed at the Mumbai airport late Friday evening The passengers were stuck at the Diyarbakir Airport in Turkey after their Mumbaibound aircraft from London was diverted to the airport on WednesdayAAP Mumbai president Preeti Sharma Menon whose relatives were on the flight said the airline abandoned the 270 passengers at the remote military Diyarbakir Airport and the local staff had no resources to manage them despite trying their bestIt was at the intervention of the Indian Consul in Turkey that they were given good food and hotel stay after a 26hour ordeal of sitting on metal chairs and sharing just one toilet she saidMenon said Pressure from passengers the Indian authorities and media finally got Virgin Atlantic to rescue the passengers who landed in Mumbai two days after their scheduled arrival having spent almost three days in transitI want to thank everyone who helped me reach out to the authorities she saidAfter being stranded for more than 40 hours at a Turkey airport over 250 Virgin Atlantic passengers including Indians landed at the Mumbai airport late in the evening on FridayThe passengers were stuck at the Diyarbakir Airport in Turkey after their Mumbaibound aircraft from London was diverted to the airport on WednesdayWith all necessary technical approvals now secured the plane departed Diyarbakir Airport at 1300 local time on Friday 4th April operating as flight VS1358 Customers are now en route to Mumbai with an expected arrival at approximately 2049 local time the spokesperson said in a statement earlier in the dayOver 250 passengers were stuck at the airport An A3501000 aircraft was operating the flight that has over 300 seats according to sourcesWere sorry that Virgin Atlantic flight VS358 from London Heathrow to Mumbai on 2nd April was disrupted following an urgent medical diversion to Diyarbakir Airport in TurkeyDue to the nature of the landing the aircraft required extensive technical inspection before the aircraft was cleared to operate The safety and security of our customers and crew remains our highest priority and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and prolonged delay the spokesperson said in the statement on FridayWith inputs from Agencies