Passengers on an Air France flight from Bengaluru to Paris face a second day of unexpected delays in Turkmenistan. A technical error forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Ashgabat, leaving travelers stuck far from their intended destination.
Embassy steps in with assistance
Consular officials from the Embassy of India in Turkmenistan have moved quickly to support the affected passengers. They met with the group at Ashgabat Airport and offered assurances of full support for their onward journey to Paris.
The embassy shared this update through a post on social media platform X. They included two photographs showing officials interacting with the stranded Indian travelers.
Technical troubles cause extended delay
The flight's problems began even before takeoff. Air France Flight AF191 was originally scheduled to depart Bengaluru at 2 AM on Monday, January 12. However, technical issues kept the plane grounded for twenty-one hours in the Indian city.
The aircraft finally took off at 11:22 PM for what should have been a ten-hour journey to Paris. It flew normally over India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan before encountering more trouble.
Four hours into the flight, one of the engines developed a fault while the plane was in Turkmenistan airspace. The crew made the decision to descend for an emergency landing at Ashgabat airport, which they reached approximately one hour later.
New timeline for Paris arrival
The stranded passengers now expect to continue their journey on Wednesday, January 14. Current plans indicate a 1 PM local time departure from Ashgabat.
Aviation news service Airlive reported that the flight will resume with a spare aircraft rather than the original plane. Passengers have already spent thirty-three hours waiting at the airport.
Flight tracking information shows that a replacement Air France aircraft departed from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport early Tuesday afternoon. This rescue flight was scheduled to arrive in Ashgabat at 8:27 PM on Tuesday.
Once the replacement crew receives adequate rest, the Wednesday afternoon departure for Paris appears feasible according to available reports.
Turkmenistan's unique challenges
The unexpected stop in Turkmenistan presents particular difficulties for travelers. The country maintains very strict visa regulations that typically require advance planning.
Visitors normally need a letter of invitation issued by an authorized travel agent. They must also pay approximately fifty dollars for visa processing, which converts to about four thousand five hundred Indian rupees.
Turkmenistan's Foreign Office outlines additional requirements for air travelers. All passengers arriving at Ashgabat airport must undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival. This test costs thirty-one dollars, equivalent to nearly twenty-eight hundred Indian rupees, and payment must be made in cash.
Travel writer Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet guidebooks, has described Ashgabat in striking terms. He called it the "weirdest city ever" and claimed it felt stranger than North Korea's capital Pyongyang.
Wheeler wrote that Ashgabat gave him the impression of a dystopian movie set where impressive buildings stand empty of people. His observations highlight the unusual circumstances facing the stranded Air France passengers as they await their continued journey to France.
