I found AirPods on an airplane, is there a way to return to owner?

If the owner of these AirPods realizes that they have lost their AirPods, they have the option to put them into "Lost Mode." This mode would give them the additional option to provide the Finder with a message that could include their phone number or email address. You would see this if you have an iPhone when the AirPods are near it.

If they did not enable Lost Mode or provide a message, then you would have no means to contact them. Instead, in order for the owner to try to locate them in Find My, the following would need to be true:

• The AirPods are within range of your devices (iOS or macOS). Alternatively, they would need to be near any Apple device that the user has enabled "Find My Network" on.
• They are not in their charging case.
• They are still charged.
• The AirPods have not been reset

So, you basically have two choices:

1. Don't reset them. Charge them up, if they are discharged, but be sure to remove them from their charging case after doing so. If not already, enable "Find My Network" on your iPhone (if you have one). All of these actions will provide a means for these AirPods to access the Internet to communicate with Apple servers. In turn, this is how the owner can locate them in the Find My app. Of course, this would mean that the owner could try to locate you.
2. Leave them where you found them. Better still, if they were found near a business establishment, leave them with their "lost & found." Alternatively, you can leave them with law enforcement.