A passenger aboard Air India flight AI-2820, scheduled to depart from Bengaluru to New Delhi at 6:05 PM on Wednesday, was offloaded before takeoff at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) due to undisclosed security concerns, according to airport sources.
The incident occurred amid elevated nationwide airport security, following India’s precision airstrikes under Operation Sindhoor—a military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, that killed 26 civilians. The strikes targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, prompting airspace restrictions and enhanced vigilance across major Indian airports.
While confirming the incident, an Air India official refrained from revealing further information, stating only, “Such actions are never taken lightly. There were valid security reasons behind the deboarding decision.”
Security at KIA and other major airports has been significantly intensified. Earlier in the day, BIAL (Bengaluru International Airport Limited) issued a passenger advisory, alerting travelers about potential flight delays and cancellations on May 7 due to ongoing airspace management protocols.
“Some flights have been cancelled. We urge passengers to check real-time updates through their airlines or our official social media handles,” BIAL shared via a post on ‘X’.
As Operation Sindhoor continues to unfold, precautionary measures—including mock drills and increased surveillance—are being implemented to ensure passenger safety and preparedness in light of possible threats.
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