Nepal’s Buddha Air Makes Emergency Landing in Kathmandu After Engine Flame-Out

Buddha Air flight BHA953 safely returns to Tribhuvan International Airport after engine failure mid-air; all 72 passengers and 4 crew members are safe.

Kathmandu [Nepal], January 6: A Buddha Air flight (BHA953) en route to Chandragadhi (Bhadrapur) made an emergency landing at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Monday morning following an engine flame-out shortly after takeoff.

Incident Details

The ATR-72 aircraft, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, took off from Kathmandu at 10:37 am (NST). Approximately 43 nautical miles east of the airport, the left engine experienced a flame-out. Following safety protocols, the pilots declared a full emergency and continued to fly using a single engine before safely landing back in Kathmandu at 11:15 am (NST).

Technical Inspection Underway

According to Buddha Air, the affected aircraft is currently undergoing a technical inspection to determine the cause of the engine flame-out. Meanwhile, another aircraft is being arranged to transport the passengers to their original destination.

Airport Briefly Closed

Tribhuvan International Airport was briefly closed to ensure a smooth and safe emergency landing but has since resumed normal operations.

A spokesperson for the airport confirmed, “The emergency protocols were executed efficiently, and all passengers and crew are safe. The airport is now fully operational.”

This incident highlights the importance of robust safety measures and skilled aviation response teams in managing mid-air emergencies effectively.