Hundreds of passengers aboard an Air France flight from Bengaluru to Paris have been stranded in Turkmenistan for two days after the aircraft experienced an engine fault. The flight, AF191, originally scheduled to depart at 2am local time on Monday, was delayed due to a technical issue before eventually taking off. Four hours into the journey, a fault developed in one of the engines, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing at Ashgabat airport.
The aircraft landed at 3.38am local time and taxied to a remote stand. Passengers have been stuck without visas, as Turkmenistan has strict entry requirements. Visitors must obtain a letter of invitation from a travel agent and pay around £37, while all air travellers must undergo a Covid-19 test costing $31 (£23) in cash upon arrival.
One passenger, posting on social media as Aniket, described the ordeal, stating that the flight was rescheduled from 2am to 10pm due to technical issues before being diverted. He expressed frustration with the lack of support from Air France's helpline, which had a 45-minute wait time. The passenger noted that a departure on Wednesday at 1pm might be possible, but no visa had been arranged.
Reports indicate that a replacement Air France aircraft departed from Paris CDG early Tuesday afternoon to rescue the stranded passengers, scheduled to arrive in Ashgabat at 8.27pm local time. A departure to Paris is anticipated at 1pm on Wednesday, according to The Independent.
Turkmenistan's capital, Ashgabat, has been described by Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler as even stranger than North Korea's Pyongyang, likening it to a dystopian movie set. The incident highlights the challenges of air travel when unexpected technical issues arise in countries with restrictive visa policies.
