Bengaluru: A Nepal-bound flight operated by Air India Express was delayed for around 18 hours at Kempegowda International Airport, triggering protests by nearly 180 passengers who alleged poor communication from the airline.

The incident occurred at Terminal 2 of the airport, where many of the affected travellers — reportedly from Karnataka and headed on a planned 10-day Nepal tour — gathered near the immigration area and raised slogans against the airline.

Flight returned, diverted multiple times

According to passengers, the flight initially departed Bengaluru for Kathmandu at around 10.30 am on Thursday. However, the aircraft reportedly returned without landing in Kathmandu under circumstances that were not immediately explained to the passengers.

Travellers alleged that they were not given clear information regarding the revised departure time, leading to confusion and prolonged waiting at the airport.

The same aircraft is said to have taken off again the following morning, but once more failed to land in Kathmandu and was diverted to Lucknow. After several hours of uncertainty and exhaustion, passengers reportedly staged a protest inside the aircraft, following which the airline flew them back to Bengaluru.

On arrival, several passengers staged a sit-in protest inside the airport premises, expressing anger over the delay and lack of clarity.

Airport officials confirmed that around 180 passengers were affected by the disruption.

Airline cites adverse weather

In an official statement, Air India Express attributed the disruption to adverse weather conditions in Kathmandu.

“Due to adverse weather in Kathmandu, our Bengaluru–Kathmandu flights on 26 and 27 February were diverted. An additional flight operated today to recover guests from yesterday’s disrupted service was also diverted for the same reason. Affected guests have been provided hotel accommodation and the option of complimentary rescheduling or full-refund cancellation. An additional recovery flight is planned tomorrow to accommodate these guests,” the airline spokesperson said.

The airline added that the inconvenience was caused due to factors beyond its control and expressed regret over the disruption.

Passengers allege poor communication

Despite the weather explanation, several passengers maintained that the main issue was not the diversion itself but the alleged lack of timely updates.

Videos circulating on social media showed travellers raising slogans and questioning airline representatives about the repeated delays. Some passengers claimed they were left waiting for hours without clarity about whether the flight would depart, be rescheduled or cancelled.

Many of the affected passengers were reportedly part of organised tour groups, adding to the logistical complications caused by the delay.

Travel plans disrupted

The 18-hour delay has disrupted itineraries for dozens of families and tour groups. Passengers said hotel bookings and sightseeing plans in Nepal were affected due to the uncertainty.

Aviation experts note that weather-related diversions, especially to airports in hilly terrain such as Kathmandu, are not uncommon. However, effective communication and passenger management are crucial during such disruptions to prevent unrest.

Authorities at Kempegowda International Airport did not report any law and order issues beyond the protests.

With an additional recovery flight planned, the airline is expected to clear the backlog of stranded passengers. Meanwhile, the incident has once again highlighted the importance of transparent communication and contingency planning in handling flight disruptions.