Frustration and chaos unfolded at Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport on Saturday, June 21, 2025, as passengers on two Air India Express flights discovered that their checked luggage had not arrived. The incident involved flight IX-2936 from Bengaluru, which landed at 8:23 AM, and flight IX-1634 from Chennai, which landed at 8:50 AM.
Upon landing, passengers were directed to collect their belongings from conveyor belts 3 and 4. However, their anticipation soon turned to dismay as they waited in vain, realizing that no luggage was forthcoming. According to a passenger named Vivek Sharma who was on the flight from Bengaluru, he waited for over an hour, only to find the designated belt empty. Sharma also stated that the airport staff informed them that the luggage was not loaded due to bad weather in Bengaluru. Adding to the passenger's frustration was the lack of clear answers from the airline regarding the whereabouts of their bags or when they might expect to receive them.
The situation quickly escalated as tempers flared and disgruntled travelers confronted airline personnel. One irate passenger exclaimed that the airline should cease operations if it couldn't manage basic tasks, while another urgently requested same-day delivery, explaining that essential medicines were in their missing luggage and they couldn't afford to wait another day.
Airport personnel and CISF officers intervened to manage the growing crowd, assuring passengers that efforts were underway to transport the luggage on subsequent flights. Airline representatives attributed the issue to adverse weather conditions in both Bengaluru and Chennai, further complicated by the Patna airport's relatively short runway. Weight restrictions and safety protocols were also cited as contributing factors for not loading the baggage. Airline staff assured the crowd that the luggage would be delivered to their home addresses once it arrived in Patna.
An airport official, speaking anonymously, suggested that the primary cause was the aircraft's load factor. They explained that airlines sometimes have to offload checked baggage to meet the maximum take-off weight, particularly when departing from Patna due to the airport's shorter runway.
As of Saturday evening, Air India had not released an official statement regarding the incident. However, airport authorities indicated that the missing luggage was expected to arrive in Patna by Sunday. Affected passengers were left with only their cabin bags and mounting frustration, with some having to catch connecting flights without their checked belongings. This is reportedly the second time in two weeks that flights have landed in Patna without the passenger's luggage.
