Indonesian musician Katon Bagaskara spent six hours stranded at Geneva International Airport on September 7, 2026, after Etihad Airways initially denied his check-in due to visa transit concerns and widespread flight cancellations caused by the volcanic ash eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.
What was supposed to be a straightforward journey back to Indonesia turned into a logistical and emotional ordeal for Katon Bagaskara. The vocalist of KLa Project found himself stranded at Geneva International Airport in Switzerland, unable to secure boarding passes for his scheduled connection through Abu Dhabi to Jakarta. The disruption stemmed from a combination of airline caution over transit visas and massive aviation disruptions in Indonesia, where regional airspace closures paralyzed arrivals.
Stranded in Geneva and the Airline Check-In Dispute
The trouble began when airline desk staff at Geneva International Airport refused to issue boarding passes for the first leg of the journey to Abu Dhabi on Monday, September 7, 2026. According to the musician, ground personnel questioned whether he possessed the proper transit documentation for Abu Dhabi in the event that his final connection into Indonesia fell through entirely. Katon Bagaskara shared his initial situation on social media, stating that he wanted to let everyone know he was stranded at Geneva Airport, was supposed to depart for Abu Dhabi, transit there, and then head to Cengkareng.
Compounding the frustration was a stark disconnect between digital flight information and the reality at the terminal. While the airline’s website indicated normal operations and scheduled departures, counter staff rejected the attempts to board on the same day. Katon explained that the website still stated normally that he had to take off today, while Etihad itself was still deflecting responsibility and providing no news, and they were told to wait for an hour.
Faced with mounting panic over potential ticket expiration and flight uncertainty, Katon took to social media to broadcast his predicament and appeal for outside help after being left in limbo. Katon noted regarding the airline’s hesitation that perhaps they had doubts, worried that if he went to Abu Dhabi he would become a burden without a transit visa, and mentioned that the Indonesian Embassy was currently contacting the Indonesian Embassy in Geneva, hoping there would be a solution soon.
Volcanic Ash Crisis and Diplomatic Intervention
The travel bottleneck was directly tied to the impact of the sebaran abu vulkanik Gunung Anak Krakatau, which forced the temporary closure of Bandara Internasional Soekarno-Hatta di Tangerang, Banten. Pihak Etihad Airways menilai Katon tidak memiliki visa transit yang diperlukan untuk tinggal di Abu Dhabi selama menunggu kepastian jadwal penerbangan ke Indonesia.
As the hours ticked by, diplomatic missions stepped in to assist. Katon said that he had contacted the KBRI in Jenewa and Abu Dhabi. Seven hours after his initial plea, Katon noted that he had been contacted by KBRI Bern, which helped him secure a flight ticket to Denpasar. Katon stated his gratitude once again for the assistance provided since morning at Geneva Airport and the solution from the Indonesian Embassy in Bern, Switzerland.
Alternative Routing and the Journey Home
Following assistance and a review by the airline, the travel status shifted. Etihad Airways confirmed that his itinerary was active after six hours of uncertainty. Katon Bagaskara stated in his video update on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, that he just wanted to update everyone after finally being tossed about for six hours, Etihad finally gave word that his flight was confirmed, matching up with the check-in desk.
Instead of flying directly into Jakarta while the primary capital gateway remained restricted, the adjusted itinerary routed the musician through Denpasar, Bali, via Geneva and Abu Dhabi. Melansir laman resmi Etihad, waktu perjalanan Katon Bagaskara untuk kembali ke Indonesia diperkirakan memakan waktu sekitar 19 jam 45 menit. Katon mengabarkan bahwa keesokan harinya ia would be heading home to Denpasar via Abu Dhabi from Geneva.
Upon entering the boarding gate, Katon added, praising God, that he had already entered the gate at Geneva Airport in Switzerland to take off for Denpasar, while waiting for Cengkareng to be able to open flights again. He further noted regarding the next steps that Etihad had told him to wait at Denpasar for a seven-hour transit the next day so that hopefully he could finally go home to Cengkareng once the volcanic ash had passed.
Reflecting on the entire experience, Katon offered a critique regarding the airline’s coordination, thanking Etihad for listening to him, but suggesting that next time they should make things more coordinated between the check-in desk and the website.
