Bengaluru, May 7 — A passenger was deboarded from an Air India flight at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Wednesday evening due to unspecified security-related concerns, airport sources confirmed.
The incident occurred aboard flight AI-2820, which was scheduled to depart for New Delhi at 6:05 p.m. The individual was removed from the aircraft before takeoff following what officials described as “specific concerns.”
While details of the incident remain confidential, an Air India spokesperson said, “There must have been a reason for deboarding the passenger. It’s not something done routinely. There were specific concerns which we are not in a position to disclose.”
The deboarding comes amid heightened nationwide airport security following Operation Sindoor—a series of Indian airstrikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the deadly attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam last month. Airports across the country, including Bengaluru’s KIA, have stepped up vigilance and operational checks.
Earlier in the day, Bengaluru Airport had issued a passenger advisory warning of potential delays and cancellations due to airspace restrictions in effect on May 7. “We’re expecting impact on some flights across our network due to airspace restrictions. All passengers are requested to please check directly with your airline for the latest information,” read the advisory posted on the airport’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.
As of now, there is no official confirmation regarding the identity of the deboarded passenger or any threat posed. The flight eventually departed after a delay, though Air India has not commented on the exact duration or operational impact.
