<p>Around 60 Indian passengers had to face an ordeal at Kuwait airport for 13 hours after their Mumbai to Manchester flight made an emergency landing there due to a technical glitch. </p>
<p>The passengers alleged they were not getting “food or help.” The Indian Embassy in Kuwait had to intervene and come to the rescue of passengers as it took up the matter with Gulf Air. The Embassy also clarified the visa rule for Indians in Kuwait. </p>
<p>The Gulf Air flight had to make an emergency landing at Kuwait airport after an engine fire incident. Soon after a video surfaced on social media where passengers of the flight could be seen arguing with officials. </p>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>Indian Passengers Stranded at Kuwait Airport for Over 13 Hours After Emergency Landing<br /><br />Passengers traveling from Mumbai to Manchester via Gulf Air faced a nightmare journey when their flight made an emergency landing at Kuwait International Airport due to an engine fire. Over 60… <a href=”https://t.co/vQyF1mge7p”>pic.twitter.com/vQyF1mge7p</a></p>
— Kumaon Jagran (@KumaonJagran) <a href=”https://twitter.com/KumaonJagran/status/1863246339687239952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>December 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The passengers alleged they were harassed and only flyers from the European Union, the UK, and the US were given accommodation by the airline and were allowed to exit due to the availability of transit visas on arrival. They further alleged that passengers holding Indian, Pakistani, and other Southeast Asian national passports were subjected to bias and harassment. </p>
<h2><strong>Embassy Steps In</strong></h2>
<p>Intervening in the situation, a team from the Indian Embassy in Kuwait reached the airport to assist the passengers, reported IANS. The Embassy team coordinated with the airline and said the flyers were accommodated in two airport lounges. </p>
<p>”Efforts are being made to accommodate passengers in airport hotel which is currently unavailable due to the ongoing GCC Summit,” the Embassy said in a post on X. </p>
<p>It further said Indian nationals do not fall under the Visa on arrival facility in Kuwait and additionally all government offices were closed due to the GCC Summit. </p>
<p>The Embassy later said that food and water were made available for the passengers who were accommodated in two lounges at the airport. </p>
<p>”Embassy has been informed by Gulf Air that the flight for stranded passengers from Kuwait to Manchester is tentatively scheduled at 3.30 am on 2 Dec. This is being conveyed to all passengers by the Embassy team at the airport,” it said. </p>
<p>The passengers were finally able to leave Kuwait airport as the Gulf Air flight to Manchester departed at 4:34 am local time and the Embassy team remained on the ground till the flight departed, it said. </p>