Air India Express Nepal Flight U-Turn Sparks Passenger Outrage

New Delhi, February 28, 2026: Passengers at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru staged a massive protest on Saturday, February 28, 2026, after an Air India Express flight to Kathmandu failed to land in Nepal for two consecutive days. The situation escalated into chaos at Terminal 2, with travelers alleging gross mismanagement and a complete lack of communication from the airline.

Timeline of the Ordeal

The disruption began on Thursday, February 26, when the scheduled flight departed Bengaluru at 10:30 AM. However, due to adverse weather and poor visibility in Kathmandu, the aircraft was unable to land and eventually returned to Bengaluru.

The ordeal repeated on Friday, February 27:

• The same aircraft took off again in a second attempt to reach Nepal.
• The flight was denied landing permission in Kathmandu once more due to persistent bad weather.
• The aircraft was diverted to Varanasi and Lucknow at different stages.
• Passengers claimed they were kept inside the aircraft for several hours at these diversion points without clear updates or adequate refreshments.

By the time the flight returned to Bengaluru for the second time on Friday evening, exhausted passengers had reportedly spent over 30 hours combined inside the aircraft over the two-day period.

Protests at Terminal 2

Upon their return to Bengaluru, approximately 180 passengers—including a group of 37 travelers from Karnataka on a 10-day tour—refused to deboard or leave the immigration area.

Key Grievances:

• Poor Communication: Flyers alleged that the crew and airline staff failed to provide timely or accurate information regarding the delays.
• Financial Loss: Many travelers expressed frustration over ruined holiday plans, non-refundable hotel bookings in Nepal, and wasted leave days.
• Inadequate Care: Passengers at diversion sites claimed they were only provided with minimal snacks (such as biscuit packets) despite hours of waiting.

“Our entire Nepal trip has been ruined. We planned this months in advance and have suffered significant financial losses. Nobody from the airline explained why we were being flown back and forth without a solution,” lamented one of the protesting passengers.

Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were deployed to the scene to pacify the crowd, though many continued a sit-in protest demanding accountability and immediate compensation.

Airline Response and “Recovery Flight”

An Air India Express spokesperson expressed regret for the inconvenience, attributing the disruptions entirely to unfavorable weather conditions in Kathmandu, which are beyond the carrier’s control.

To resolve the crisis, the airline has announced the following:

1. Recovery Flight: An additional flight has been scheduled for Sunday, March 1, 2026, specifically to transport the stranded guests to Kathmandu.
2. Options for Passengers: Affected travelers have been offered the choice of a full refund, complimentary rescheduling, or hotel accommodation in Bengaluru while waiting for the recovery flight.

While the airline maintains that safety protocols necessitated the diversions, the incident has sparked a wider debate regarding passenger rights and the standard of care provided by low-cost carriers during prolonged operational disruptions.