Chaos erupted at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport around 11 pm on Sunday as angry passengers protested the abrupt cancellation of Air India flight to Hyderabad, originally scheduled to depart at 1:40 pm the same day.
The situation escalated when passengers, including those traveling with sick children, raised slogans against the airline after learning about the cancellation several hours past the scheduled departure time. According to passenger accounts, Air India only communicated the cancellation and offered refunds around 10 pm, nearly eight hours after the original departure time.
Frustrated travelers rejected the airline’s offer to refund ticket fares, instead demanding that they be flown to their intended destination. Many passengers expressed anger over the lack of prior intimation about the cancellation, leaving them stranded at the airport for hours without clear communication from airline officials.
The protest intensified when passengers traveling on the Guwahati-Kolkata flight (IX 1954), originally scheduled for 10:05 pm, also joined the demonstration as their flight faced significant delays until 11:55 pm. The dual disruption created a tense atmosphere at the airport, with uncertainty mounting over flight operations.
When the boarding announcement was finally made for the delayed Kolkata flight, Hyderabad-bound passengers expressed further outrage, demanding priority arrangements for their travel. The situation highlighted the cascading effect of flight disruptions on airport operations and passenger management.
Passengers alleged poor communication from Air India staff and criticized the airline’s handling of the crisis, particularly the delay in informing travelers about the cancellation and the limited alternatives offered.
