Karachi, January 29, 2025: Onija Andrew Robbins, a 33-year-old American woman, created a scene at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Wednesday after refusing to board her flight back to the United States.
Robbins had traveled to Pakistan months earlier, hoping to marry a young Pakistani man she had met online. However, after her fiancé, 19-year-old Nidal Memon from Karachi’s Garden area, had his marriage proposal rejected by his family, Robbins found herself stranded in a difficult situation.
Sources say Robbins had arrived in Karachi in October 2024 after connecting with Memon through social media. While the two had formed an online relationship, Memon’s family’s rejection of the union led to complications, and Robbins’ visit visa expired.
At the airport, Robbins resisted multiple attempts to have her return to the United States. After a 36-minute delay to her scheduled flight QR 611, which was bound for New York via Doha, airport authorities and even US consulate officials were unable to convince her to leave. Despite their efforts, Robbins booked an online taxi, left the airport, and continued to refuse assistance from consulate staff.
Reports suggest Robbins, a mother of two, was in no mood to return home, offering various reasons for her reluctance. She even refused to go through immigration and resisted boarding her flight, leading to the delay.
Eventually, police and airport security had to intervene. Robbins was taken into protective custody and moved to the departure lounge to prevent further disruptions. During this time, she also sought medical attention at the airport’s emergency clinic for cold and flu symptoms.
In response to the situation, a Karachi-based NGO provided Robbins with the support she needed. The organization arranged her flight ticket and assisted with her financial needs, ensuring she could return to the US.
The unusual incident has garnered significant media attention, highlighting the emotional turmoil Robbins faced after her romantic hopes were dashed.
