Air India Express Flight from Bengaluru to Kathmandu Diverted Twice, 180 Passengers Stranded for Over 18 Hours
An Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Kathmandu remained stranded for more than 18 hours due to bad weather, leaving around 180 passengers distressed. The flight was diverted twice — first to Varanasi and then to Lucknow — before eventually returning to Bengaluru.
The aircraft departed from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru, at 10:30 AM on Thursday and was scheduled to land in Kathmandu at 1:25 PM. However, due to adverse weather conditions in Nepal’s capital, the flight could not land and was rerouted multiple times.
Passengers Protest at Bengaluru Airport
Angered by uncertainty and lack of basic facilities, several passengers staged a protest at Terminal 2 of Bengaluru airport and raised slogans against the airline.
According to a Times of India report, the flight was carrying nearly 180 passengers, including 37 from Karnataka, who were on a 10-day tour to Nepal.
Allegations of Poor Facilities During Delay
Sudhalakar S, a tour agent traveling with the group, told TOI that passengers were made to wait until 4:25 PM and were given only a packet of biscuits during the prolonged delay.
Due to continued bad weather in Kathmandu, the aircraft was first diverted to Varanasi and later rerouted to Lucknow. After refueling at the diverted airport and with weather conditions still unfavorable, the flight departed at 5:15 PM and returned to Bengaluru.
As a result of repeated diversions, Nepal-bound passengers remained stranded for more than 18 hours.
Airline Offers Refund and Rescheduling Options
An Air India Express spokesperson expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers. The airline arranged hotel accommodations for affected travelers and offered complimentary rescheduling or full refunds.
The spokesperson also confirmed that an additional flight has been scheduled for Saturday to accommodate the stranded passengers.
This incident highlights the challenges faced by airlines and passengers during adverse weather conditions and has sparked debate over passenger care and airline response during long delays.
