Visas and flight diversions
 

Another post made me think of this.

If a flight is diverted to a country X where some passengers need visas, how are they processed? These passengers didn't expect to be in X, so they don't have visas for X.

If a passenger has a medical emergency mid-flight and the flight diverts to X, can he/she still receive treatment in X if he/she doesn't have a visa for X?

I imagine it all varies enormously from country to country. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Or do lose sleep while you compose a comprehensive list for us and post it.

And don't forget, some places will give a transit visa for flights a day or 2 later so you can enter the country briefly, another variation on your theme to include for us.

If you are Snowden, then you should plan your flights carefully and not use that flight that overflies the US, for example.

Or Mikhail Baryshnikov in the 1980s movie White Nights. He played a Russian dancer who had defected to the West, just like in his own life. His flight to Japan had to make an emergency landing in the Soviet Union. His character was detained by Soviet authorities

Beyond that, I wouldn't worry too much about it. ;)

There is nothing to worry about.

If the flight was diverted because of mechanical or weather issues then the passengers will be allowed to stay in a secure area of the airport until the issues are resolved. In another words, you will not be able to go through passport/custom control if you are required to have a visa.

If it's a medical issue the passenger(s) will be allowed in to seek medical help. Think of it like this. If somebody has a problem and goes to ER without insurance. You will get treated but as soon as you are stabilized you will be asked to leave.

Just hope that it's an international airport your flight gets diverted to. If it's not, and therefore there is no "secure pre-immigration" area, you'll be stuck on the plane until they can figure out what to do with you.

A few years back our flight to San Jose, CR was blocked by severe thunderstorms pretty much all across the country. We were diverted to San Andres, Colombia. Landing about 11 PM, the airport was closed (the terminal, that is) as were almost everything in the town, which was adjacent to the airport.

We were allow to deplane and authorities even said it was ok to leave the airport (they opened one door for the purpose) but it was our responsibility to be back for departure. I don't think anyone left the building as the town looked quite desolate.

Some cop who spoke English explained there was no need to contain us because of no immigration ... everything was closed, there was nothing to do anywhere and the island was small and a bit isolated so they weren't worried about anyone wandering!