IPL 2024: Two Failed Landings, A 7-hour Flight! The Timeline of KKR's On-Air Misery from Lucknow to Kolkata

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Kolkata Knight Riders and their players had to endure a flight merry-go-round en route to their journey from Lucknow to Kolkata on Monday (May 6).

KKR had their IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday and left the Uttar Pradesh capital on Monday. But after that, their flight had an air scare and the 90-minute journey ended up being a long one of 7 hours, and the team finally landed in Varanasi late night on Monday.

Scheduled start from Lucknow - 5:45 pm

The entire team took the flight from Lucknow on Monday evening for Kolkata, which was supposed to be a normal flight of around 1:30 hours. But what happened after next was nothing but scary and very tiresome for the passengers on the flight.

A diversion to Guwahati - 7:30 pm

The Kolkata weather turned rainy on Monday afternoon. After days of scorching heat and unbearable humidity along with heat waves, the heavens finally opened up in the evening. It started raining viciously and along with that there was a massive thunderstorm with frightening lightning. KKR's flight, which was supposed to land in Kolkata, circled around the West Bengal air space for about 45 minutes but then was rerouted to Guwahati for landing.

Flight Reaching Guwahati - 8:45 pm

At about 8:45 pm, the flight reached the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The players spent some time inside the flight only before getting clearance for Kolkata.

Guwahati to Kolkata - 10 pm

They received the clearance and the flight was now scheduled to reach the City of Joy at about 11 pm.

Mid-Air Diversion to Varanasi, Reaching Varanasi at 1:15 am

But the inclement weather meant their flight had several failed landing again. The airbus was then diverted mid-air to Varanasi and it landed at about 1:15 am at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. The team then ended up staying in Varanasi overnight.

When will KKR come to Kolkata?

The KKR team will arrive in Kolkata today (Tuesday, May 7). Their flight from Varanasi to Kolkata is at 1:15 pm and the team is likely to reach the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at about 2:30 pm in the afternoon.