A mid-air engine fire on a flight to Manchester left terrified passengers stranded miles from home.

The Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner had taken off from Bahrain before the flames began pouring from the left side of the aircraft around an hour into the flight.

Horrifying footage shows the trail of orange flames pouring into the night sky above the Middle East.

The aircraft made an emergency landing at Kuwait International Airport due to the reported engine fire in the early hours of Sunday, December 1.

Passengers on Flight GF5 were stranded for more than 14 hours without any help.

One said: 'There was no help for us. The airport staff were rude and the airline did nothing. We were left waiting in a foreign country with nobody telling us what would happen.'

Officials said the scheduled departure time was 2:10 am, with an arrival time of 6:35 am. Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft departed at 2:25 am before making an emergency landing around an hour later.

Local media reported that some passengers faced alleged discrimination, claiming that while EU, UK, and US passport holders were provided accommodation, travellers from India, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia were initially denied food and water.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait addressed the matter with airport authorities and airline officials. They arranged temporary lodging for senior citizens and passengers with infants.

Gulf Air said in a statement: 'Gulf Air confirms that Flight GF005, operating from Bahrain International Airport (BAH) to Manchester Airport (MAN) on December 1, 2024, was diverted to Kuwait International Airport (KWI) due to a technical issue.

'An alternative aircraft has been arranged for passengers to continue their journey to Manchester. Temporary accommodations were also arranged for passengers affected by the diversion.

'Gulf Air apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this unexpected change in itinerary and appreciates the understanding and patience of our passengers and their families. The safety and security of those traveling with us remains our top priority.'

The plane involved in the incident was a 6.5-year-old Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as A9C-FB. It has a seating capacity of 282 passengers, with 256 in economy class and 26 in business class.

Gulf Air's fleet consists of 42 aircraft, including Airbus A320, A321, and Boeing 787 Dreamliners.