Overview
- Air France flight AF191 from Bengaluru to Paris diverted to Ashgabat after a technical issue with one of the Boeing 777’s engines, and it landed normally at 3:37 a.m. local time.
- Passengers initially waited on the aircraft due to Turkmenistan’s entry rules, which include on-arrival Covid testing payable in cash, before being assisted by airport staff and moved to hotels.
- Air France dispatched recovery flight AF386V from Paris to collect the group, with the airline estimating a Paris arrival at 2:40 a.m. on January 14 local time, subject to change.
- The disrupted journey followed a separate delay of more than 21 hours before the aircraft finally departed Bengaluru late on January 12.
- Indian Embassy officials in Ashgabat met affected Indian passengers and offered consular support, while relatives reported limited updates and long waits for airline helplines.