Thiruvananthapuram: Around 400 passengers were stranded at the Istanbul airport for two days after IndiGo flights to Mumbai and Delhi were delayed. Manorama News reported that cancer patients are also among the stranded passengers. As the news made headlines, the Indian embassy in Istanbul on Saturday intervened to assist the passengers who were stuck in the airport since Thursday. In a post on X, the embassy claimed that both flights left for Mumbai and Delhi on Saturday noon.

“The Consulate was in touch with the airlines regularly and responding to all calls from the passengers. The flights were delayed due to a technical issue related to safety. The passengers were provided lounge, stay, and food. The flights had finally departed Istanbul after the necessary checks,” the embassy wrote on X.

When most of the passengers opened up about the issue through social media on Friday, the airlines issued an apology for the inconvenience.

"Due to technical issues, IndiGo flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Istanbul experienced delays. This led to cascading delays in the return sectors. All necessary steps were taken to ensure customers were apprised, and they were provided with refreshments and accommodation, where possible," the airline said in a statement on Friday evening.

Earlier in the day, IndiGo, in a statement, also apologised for the inconvenience caused to the passengers. The airline did not disclose specific details about the flights and the number of passengers.

IndiGo operates two flights daily, with Boeing 777 aircraft, to Istanbul -- one from Delhi and another from Mumbai. Some passengers also shared pictures of people stuck at the airport.

In a post on X, a passenger said, "first time to India and stranded at the Istanbul Airport for the last 24 hours because the IndiGo flight keeps cancelling. No food. No clarity. No representative, No compensation, Pathetic treatment".

"Lot of people stranded at the airport due to pathetic services by @IndiGo6E and @TurkishAirlines operators. Never book flights with them as they don't value passengers' time. You can never be on time with @IndiGo6E," another passenger said in a post on X.