Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) saw an unusual scene on Thursday as frustrated passengers staged a protest over the repeated cancellation of a flight bound for Hyderabad. Passengers expressed anger after their flight, operated by a private airline, was cancelled twice, disrupting their work schedules and travel plans.
Lack of communication
According to passengers, the flight was initially cancelled on Wednesday, with promises of rescheduling it to Thursday. However, when they arrived at the airport, they were informed of a second cancellation. Adding to their frustration was the lack of clear communication from the airport authorities about the reason behind the repeated cancellations.
Prasanna Pradhan, the Director of BPIA, clarified the situation, explaining that the delay was caused by technical issues affecting the flight’s arrival from Hyderabad. “The flight eventually landed in Bhubaneswar at 11:15 am on Thursday and was prepared for departure. Safety is our utmost priority in cases of technical issues, and passengers should accept delays in these situations,” Pradhan stated.
While the director’s statement emphasised passenger safety, the lack of timely information left many feeling inconvenienced.
(With agency inputs)