Passengers on a flight from Bahrain to Lahore in Pakistan finally arrived at their destination yesterday (March 3) morning after an almost 40-hour delay.

Gulf Air flight GF766, carrying 214 passengers, was making its descent towards Lahore on Sunday (March 1) evening, when complications arising from what is believed to have been a lightning strike caused the crew to abort their approach and land in the Indian capital, New Delhi, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

"Extensive discussions" then ensued with Indian authorities "to allow disembarkation" of all the passengers on board, according to Gulf Air.

Reports in the Indian and Pakistani media allege that getting the required permission took up to eight hours.

It was only after this point that food and meals could be served in a transit area while maintenance on the aircraft was carried out, it has been claimed.

"Gulf Air can confirm the arrival of flight GF766 into Lahore on March 3 at 10.40am local time (8.40am Bahrain time)," said the airline in a statement yesterday.

"Flight GF766 was carrying 214 passengers who departed Bahrain on March 1 and had to be diverted to New Delhi, Indira Gandhi International Airport due to weather in Lahore, Allama Iqbal International Airport and a subsequent technical incident which impacted the aircraft."

The airline added that passengers were kept aboard the aircraft "due to immigration and security requirements".

Civil aviation incident and critical situation reporting service The Aviation Herald said the service eventually reached Lahore after "a delay of 39.5 hours".

Gulf Air apologised for the delay and said the crew had done everything in their power to ensure the comfort of passengers.

"Gulf Air is wholly committed to the safety and security of its passengers and crew, and extends its sincerest apologies to our passengers for the lengthy delay and our inability to 'deplane' passengers immediately because of the immigration and security requirements at Indira Gandhi International Airport," it added in its statement. - TradeArabia News Service