Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Bhadrapur Airport has resumed operations with a shortened runway following a Buddha Air aircraft incident on Friday night. Airport Chief Kishor Kumar Khatri said flight operations are currently being conducted by reducing the usable runway length.
According to Khatri, the rear section of the aircraft went off the track during landing, making it necessary to reduce the runway from 1,500 meters to 1,400 meters. He stated that all pilots operating to and from Bhadrapur Airport are being regularly informed about the temporary runway adjustment.
“The airport is operational. Only minimal requirements are needed to keep the airport running. Since the rear portion of the aircraft is off the track, we shortened the runway slightly,” Khatri said. “We inform every arriving and departing aircraft. Although the runway is normally 1,500 meters, we are currently operating at 1,400 meters, which is sufficient for aircraft operations.”
He added that the 1,400-meter runway is adequate for safe flight operations under current conditions.
Cause of Incident Yet to Be Confirmed
The exact cause of the aircraft incident has not yet been determined, according to airport authorities. Khatri confirmed that weather conditions were clear at the time of landing, ruling out adverse weather as a factor.
“The actual cause will only be known after a detailed investigation. From our side, weather was not an issue at that time. There could be technical reasons, which will be identified after technical inspection,” he said.
Details of the Incident
The Buddha Air ATR-72 aircraft, which had departed from Kathmandu for Bhadrapur, went off the runway by approximately 300 meters towards the eastern side while landing at 9:10 pm on Friday.
There were 56 people on board, including 51 passengers, four flight crew members, and one engineer.
Injuries Reported
Seven people, including co-pilot Sushant Shrestha, were injured in the incident. The co-pilot sustained injuries to his head and face and is currently undergoing treatment at Omsai Pathibhara Hospital in Bhadrapur.
The remaining six passengers received minor treatment and have already been discharged.
Efforts are currently underway to remove the damaged aircraft from the runway, airport officials said.
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