Indian passengers stranded for more than 13 hours in Kuwait depart for Manchester

After more than a 13-hour ordeal, the Gulf Air flight to Manchester, which had left Indian passengers stranded in Kuwait, finally departed at 4:34 am on Monday. The Embassy of India in Kuwait confirmed the flight’s departure in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Embassy team was on the ground till the flight departed."

Indian passengers traveling from Mumbai to Manchester faced significant distress after their flight was unexpectedly diverted to Kuwait.

Reports suggest that passengers were left at the airport without food or proper assistance. A video circulating on social media shows passengers arguing with airport authorities, highlighting their frustration with the airline’s response.



In a social media post, passengers alleged that Gulf Air provided accommodations only to passengers from the European Union, the UK, and the US, while Indian travelers were neglected.

The diversion added to the anxiety of the passengers, with reports claiming that the announcement of the diversion came just 20 minutes before landing in Kuwait. Some passengers also alleged that one of the aircraft's engines caught fire, leading to further panic.

In response to the situation, the Indian Embassy worked with the airline and shared updates, confirming that Gulf Air had tentatively rescheduled the flight to Manchester at 3:30 am on December 2.