Blind World Cup Cricketer Stranded at Airport for Three Hours After Cathay Pacific Denies Boarding

A dispute between a group of visually impaired travellers and Cathay Pacific Airways at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has triggered allegations of discrimination, after the group was denied boarding on an international flight over an excess baggage payment issue. The travellers, who were part of a cultural tour to the United States under the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, were scheduled to fly from Bengaluru on Thursday night.

The group included blind World Cup-winning cricketer Lokesha along with musicians and performers associated with the touring ensemble. According to the travellers, the conflict arose when airline staff levied excess baggage charges for additional luggage and an oversized musical instrument. They claimed that while they attempted to complete the payment, technical limitations in the payment system prevented the transaction from being fully processed, ultimately resulting in their denial of boarding.

Lokesha alleged that airline staff behaved in a manner that suggested bias against visually impaired passengers and further claimed that attempts were made to prevent them from recording the incident. He described the experience as discriminatory and said the group felt they were not given adequate consideration despite their efforts to comply with the airline’s requirements.

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Cathay Pacific, however, rejected the allegations of discrimination and stated that the decision to deny boarding was solely due to non-completion of payment for excess baggage within the required timeframe. The airline said the passengers were carrying baggage beyond the permitted allowance and were informed of the applicable charges, with payment links shared with their travel coordinators. It added that the payment system was functional and had been successfully used by other passengers.

The airline further stated that its staff provided additional time and assistance to complete the transaction but could not proceed with boarding once the payment remained incomplete. It reiterated that the decision was not related to the passengers’ disability and emphasised its commitment to treating all travellers with dignity and equal respect, along with adherence to standard operational procedures for excess baggage handling.

Representatives from the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled disputed the airline’s explanation, claiming that the payment system had technical limitations and did not allow the full amount to be processed in a single transaction. They also alleged that alternative payment methods, including credit card payments, were not accepted. The organisation said the group was eventually stranded at the airport for several hours before arranging alternative travel and has indicated plans to pursue legal and regulatory action over the incident.

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