| | | | | |

Nepal Airlines Flight Returns to Kathmandu after Bird Strike

nepal airlinesNepal Airlines flight RA-409 had to return and make a precautionary landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 7th.

The Airbus A320-200 was en-route to Hong Kong, China, when one of its engines ingested a bird, prompting the plane to return.

The plane landed safely. All 59 people onboard remained unharmed.

The passengers were accommodated in a replacement plane.

| | | |

Nepal Airlines Boeing Makes Emergency Landing in Kuala Lumpur

A Nepal Airlines flight RA-416 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu had to return and make an emergency landing due to a technical issue.

The Boeing 757 carrying around 54 people was on its way to Kathmandu when the pilots noticed vibration in the fan blade of its right engine. The Airline spokesperson, Ramhari Sharma, confirmed that the plane landed back in Kuala Lumpur about 45 minutes after it took off.

None of the passengers and crew members were hurt.

A Nepal Airlines official said “A technical team is arriving in Kuala Lumpur to fix the problem. We hope the aircraft would be released by Saturday evening and will probably start regular flights from Sunday.”

| | | | |

Nepal Airlines Flight Missing


Contact photographer Michael Fritz

Eighteen people are missing over the Himalayan mountains of central Nepal on a Nepal Airlines Twin Otter en route from Pokhara to Jumla. The plane had stopped in Pokhara to refuel. The crew lost contact with Bhairawa ATC a quarter hour after taking off. The plane never arrived in Jumla.

The plane’s first flight was in 1971.

The route from Pokhara to Jumla flies over Dhorpatan and Rukum, and zig zags over tall mountains.

The last radio contact was at 13:13.

A fire was spotted in a forested area near Khidim but the search was called off due to weather conditions. Locals also reported hearing a loud noise. The Fishtail Air search helicopter was unable to land due to poor visibility and the air search was called off. On foot, the search continues with the Nepal Army, a team from Palpa and Mujhum Police.

The wreckage has not been located but the crash site is presumed to be on the border of Argakhanchi, Gulmi and Palpa districts, one and half hour walking uphill from Khidim village in Argakhanchi district.

There were three crew and fifteen passengers, all but one of whom were from Nepal. The foreigner is Dutch.

The crew was made up of Captain Shankar Shrestha, co-pilot Rabinda Banjara and Air hostess Muna Maharjan. The names of the passengers have not been released.

One child was also aboard.

Nepal Airlines Crash Landing in Jomsom
| | | | |

Nepal Airlines Crash Landing in Jomsom


Twenty-one people aboard a Nepal Airlines de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 survived the attempted landing 125 miles NW of Kathmandu.

Everyone aboard survived but everyone was injured. Five of the tourists were seriously injured.

On landing at Jomsom airport at 8:30 a.m., the brakes failed, and the plane skidded to the banks of the Kali Gandaki river. The wheel of the plane slipped off the runway and turned right. The front of the plane was wrecked and in the water. The back appears intact.

Eight passengers were Japanese, and on pilgrimage to Muktinath, a sacred Buddhist site at the foot of the Thorong La Himalayan mountain pass.

The rest of those aboard were Nepali.

An investigation is underway. The accident is currently being attributed to brake failure. Jomsom airport is known as one of the most dangerous on earth.

Nepal News Video

|

Nepal Airlines Near Miss

What: Nepal Airlines de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter en route from Mustang to Pokhara
Where: Jomsom Airport, Nepal
When: Oct 5, 2012, 6:55 a.m.
Who: 12 passengers, 6 crew
Why: On takeoff, the Nepal Airlines Twin Otter skidded off the runway.

The plane’s wheels got caught in drain. No one was injured, but the plane lost its balance. People on the scene were able to right the aircraft which apparently sustained no damage.