First, the Goma Air flight waited until the tower confirmed that the “bird patrol” had chased birds off the Kathmandu runway. Then the nine people aboard had just taken off from Kathmandu en route to Lukla when a bird struck the plane’s horizontal stabilizers. Pilots returned to make a safe landing in Kathmandu. According to Goma Air’s managing director, Manoj Karki, there were no injuries. We presume his statement did not include four stubborn birds who returned to the runway, one of whom damaged the plane. Goma Air expects the plane to be back in service tomorrow, after maintenance is complete.
