Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu has been temporarily closed, leading to the suspension of all international and domestic flights, including those from India. Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, Nepal Airlines, and SpiceJet have all canceled or diverted flights.
The shutdown stems from violent “Gen Z” anti-government protests sparked by a ban on social media platforms. Fires set near the airport perimeter created smoke and safety concerns, prompting authorities to halt operations.
Several aircraft were either rerouted to nearby Indian cities such as Lucknow or Delhi, or returned mid-air to origin airports due to the chaos.
IndiGo has suspended flights until 12:00 pm on September 10, along with offering waivers on rescheduling or cancellation fees for bookings made up to September 9. Air India and others are also providing similar flexibility to affected passengers.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has issued an advisory urging citizens to defer travel to Nepal. Indian nationals currently in Kathmandu are advised to stay indoors, and emergency helplines have been established by the Indian Embassy to assist them.
