Urgent Plea for Repatriation: 41 Indians Stranded in Riyadh After Flight Cancellation

Stranded Indians Seek Immediate Help

New Delhi: On Monday, Supriya Sule, a Member of Parliament from the NCP (SP), called on the Indian government and its embassy in Saudi Arabia to urgently assist 41 individuals from Bhokardan, Maharashtra, who are currently stuck in Riyadh due to the cancellation of their flight to Mumbai.

Sule, who serves as the NCP Working President and represents Baramati in the Lok Sabha, highlighted the plight of these stranded citizens after Akasa Air unexpectedly canceled their flight. She shared the names of all affected passengers in her communication.

In her post on X, she stated, "41 Indian citizens from Bhokardan, Maharashtra, are currently stranded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after their Akasa Air flight from Riyadh to Mumbai was suddenly canceled."

She urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to provide immediate support to ensure their safe return to India.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh responded promptly, indicating that they are in touch with Akasa Air and will offer all necessary assistance to facilitate the passengers' return.

"We are coordinating with Akasa Air, Madam. We will provide all required support," the embassy stated.

On Sunday, Akasa Air announced the suspension of flights to Riyadh, Doha, and Kuwait until April 12, 2026, as part of ongoing safety evaluations related to the situation in West Asia. They also offered a waiver on cancellation and rescheduling fees for affected travelers.

The airline's statement read, "Flights to/from Doha, Riyadh, and Kuwait are suspended until April 12, 2026. We are continuously monitoring the situation regarding these destinations and will notify any changes to flight statuses as they arise."

"Akasa Air has implemented a waiver policy for cancellation and rescheduling fees for passengers booked to or from these cities until April 12, 2026. Travelers can choose a full refund, which will be credited to their original payment method within seven days, or reschedule their travel without any extra charges. If bookings were made through a travel partner, passengers should contact them directly for assistance," it added.