Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Severe weather conditions, including strong winds, hail, and rainfall, disrupted flight operations in the capital on Friday, forcing multiple international aircraft to divert and delaying several domestic services.
According to the Tribhuvan International Airport office, deteriorating weather over Kathmandu led to the diversion of inbound international flights that were unable to land safely.
A China Eastern Airlines aircraft arriving from Kunming was diverted to Kolkata, while an IndiGo flight from New Delhi was rerouted to Lucknow.
The adverse weather not only affected international arrivals but also disrupted domestic air traffic. Several internal flights were placed on hold as pilots awaited improved visibility and safer landing conditions.
Airport authorities stated that both en-route conditions and weather over Kathmandu Valley remained unfavorable for safe flight operations for several hours.
Aviation officials emphasized that diversions and holding patterns are standard safety procedures during extreme weather events. Pilots are required to assess visibility, wind shear, and runway conditions before attempting landings at high-risk airports like Kathmandu, which is surrounded by challenging terrain.
Kathmandu’s airport is particularly sensitive to sudden weather changes due to its geographic location. Storm systems accompanied by gusty winds and hail significantly reduce visibility and complicate landing approaches.
Friday’s disruption highlights the vulnerability of Nepal’s aviation sector to weather volatility, especially during transitional seasons when sudden storms are more frequent.
Flight operations are expected to gradually normalize as weather conditions improve, according to airport officials.
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