Kathmandu: Nepal Airlines issued a formal apology on Thursday following a public outcry over a "network map" that incorrectly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan.

The national carrier had previously deleted the controversial social media post on Wednesday after it sparked major criticism online. The graphic, which was intended to show the airline's flight destinations, drew immediate fire for misrepresenting international borders.

"We sincerely apologise for error in the network map recently shared on our social media channels. The map contained significant cartographic inaccuracies regarding international boundaries that do not reflect the official stance of Nepal or Nepal Airlines," the carrier stated in a post on X.

Internal Accountability

The airline characterised the incident as a logistical oversight and confirmed that a probe into the origin of the graphic is currently underway.

"We have immediately removed the post and are conducting an internal review to ensure our materials meet the highest standards of accuracy," the statement continued.

Diplomatic Sensitivity

The error comes at a time of heightened regional sensitivity. Nepal Airlines emphasised its commitment to maintaining positive ties with its neighbouring countries, particularly given the critical importance of the Indian market to the region’s aviation sector.

"We deeply value our strong relationships with our neighbours and friends in the region and regret any offense the post has caused," the airline added.

With inputs from PTI