Protests shut Kathmandu airport, hit Indian flights; 2 IndiGo planes rerouted to Lucknow

Nepal protests: 2 Kathmandu-bound IndiGo flights diverted to Lucknow amid airport closure

Flights headed to Kathmandu faced major disruptions on Monday as protests triggered by a controversial social media ban caused Nepal’s main international airport to halt operations. An IndiGo Airlines aircraft, initially bound for the Nepali capital, was diverted to Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh following the closure of Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport.

Air traffic from the southern approach was restricted due to poor visibility created by thick smoke from fires lit by demonstrators near the airport, Reuters quoted aviation authority representative Gyanendra Bhul as saying. The airport, which serves as Nepal’s primary global entry point, saw multiple incoming Indian flights forced into midair holding patterns, according to real-time data from flightradar24.com.

Among them were two IndiGo services – flight 6E1153 from Delhi and flight 6E1157 from Mumbai – that circled over Kathmandu awaiting clearance. Both aircraft were ultimately redirected to Lucknow airport.

The escalating Nepal protests, driven by ‘Gen Z’ activists, erupted in Kathmandu after the government attempted to enforce a ban on platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). Authorities reversed the order only after widespread unrest left casualties.

The turmoil intensified as demonstrators set ablaze the homes of senior political leaders, including the residence of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who stepped down on Tuesday amid mounting pressure. Visuals circulating online revealed mobs targeting properties of key figures in and around the capital.

A strict curfew was imposed across Kathmandu and other cities, while schools in the capital remained closed. What began as a backlash against restrictions on social media soon expanded into broader protests highlighting alleged corruption within the Nepali government, culminating in violent attacks on parliament and properties linked to ruling leaders.