Nepal In Crisis: Tribhuvan Airport Closed, Nationwide Flights Cancelled As Gen Z Youth Protest Social Media Ban And Demand Pm Oli’s Resignation

Published on September 9, 2025

Nepal’s Tribhuvan Airport Closure and Gen Z Unrest successful Kathmandu Amid Social Media Ban has go nan focal constituent of a nationalist situation sweeping Nepal. As nan societal media prohibition ignited a youth‑led uprising, nan resulting unrest forced nan shutdown of Tribhuvan International Airport, disrupting aerial recreation and underscoring nan intersection of civilian protestation and tourism. The airdrome suspension amplified nan urgency of nan situation, drafting attraction from travelers, airlines, and authorities agencies alike.

What began arsenic a integer authorities rumor quickly expanded into a broader situation to governance, involving curfews, ministerial departures, and nan eventual resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. This article unpacks really nan airdrome closure successful Kathmandu reflects deeper generational discontent and considers what it intends for Nepal’s recreation assemblage successful nan weeks ahead.

Gen Z Protests Spark National Crisis

On September 8, 2025, Nepal’s authorities softly enacted a shutdown of 26 awesome online platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Signal—for failing to registry nether recently imposed regulations by nan Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The move triggered wide outrage, peculiarly among Generation Z, galore of whom trust connected societal media not conscionable for recreation but for learning, economical activity, and activism.

Within days, youth-led demonstrations cascaded crossed Kathmandu and different cities, including Itahari, Pokhara, and Butwal. In Kathmandu’s New Baneshwar area, protesters breached restricted zones adjacent nan national parliament, prompting nan declaration of a curfew and nan deployment of crowd-control measures specified arsenic tear state and h2o cannons. The state’s consequence turned tragic: astatine slightest 19 demonstrators were killed and much than 200 injured, making it 1 of Nepal’s deadliest episodes of civilian unrest successful caller memory.

Airport Shutdown Disrupts Travel

As protests dispersed adjacent Kathmandu’s hubs, including nan Hilton Hotel and leaders’ residences, unit began engulfing captious infrastructure. In consequence to fires ignited by protesters successful proximity to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), civilian aviation authorities issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), officially closing nan airdrome for each operations connected September 9, 2025. Several flights—including those operated by Indian carriers—were either canceled, diverted, aliases returned to origin, heightening location interest for information and negotiated fallout.

Political Fallout and Leadership Shift

In an effort to pacify mounting dissent, nan authorities reversed nan societal media prohibition early connected September 9, restoring entree to each 26 antecedently blocked platforms. However, this concession grounded to quell unrest. By mid‑day, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced his resignation amidst nationalist outrage and ongoing protests.

Simultaneously, respective cardinal ministers—including Health, Home, and Agriculture ministers—had already stepped down citing civilized accountability for nan fatalities during nan crackdown. In addition, alleviation for victims was pledged, comprising compensation for families and free aesculapian curen for injured citizens, alongside plans for a 15‑day enquiry into nan crisis’s causes .

Tourism and Travel Implications

Nepal’s tourism sector—still recovering from past crises—faces renewed anxiety. Tribhuvan International Airport is nan country’s main gateway, and its abrupt closure halted flights, stranded travelers, and stranded tourism operators. While nary charismatic authorities recreation advisory has yet been issued, tourism stakeholders are awaiting clarity connected erstwhile normal hose operations will resume, including imaginable rerouting done secondary hubs for illustration Gautam Buddha International Airport (Bhairahawa) aliases Pokhara International Airport.

Previous authorities efforts to create replacement airports, specified arsenic Gautam Buddha and Pokhara, aimed to relieve unit connected Kathmandu and fortify location tourism resilience. If Tribhuvan remains partially closed, diverted operations could amplify request astatine these facilities—although they presently deficiency nan infrastructure to afloat sorb world postulation immediately.

Eyes connected nan Political Landscape

As nan governmental scenery shifts, voices from civilian nine and guidance parties person urged nan authorities to heed younker demands and debar further suppression of expression. International authorities groups and nan UN called for a transparent investigation into nan crackdown’s lethal outcome.

For visitors and businesses, nan business underscores nan value of elastic recreation plans, security coverage, and monitoring charismatic authorities updates. Local authorities person emphasized that airdrome reopening will dangle connected restoration of information and lifting of nan NOTAM.