Buddha Air lands safely in Kathmandu despite losing front wheel

A Buddha Air flight traveling from Janakpur to Kathmandu made a safe landing, despite losing one of its two front wheels.

According to officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aircraft, registered as 9N-ANH, departed Janakpur Airport at approximately 4.45 p.m. (NST) and made a safe landing at 5:10 p.m.

Gyanendra Bhul, deputy spokesperson at CAAN, shared with ANI over the phone, “The pilots of the plane that took off from Janakpur Airport at 4:45 pm on Thursday were not aware of the wheel falling off during the takeoff, nor did the plane’s indicators show any unusual activities during the flight.”

Once the aircraft touched down at Tribhuvan International Airport, officials carried out a standard technical examination. They discovered the nose landing gear was missing and immediately launched a search. Later, they found the lost wheel near the runway at Janakpur Airport.

TIA General Manager Jagannath Niraula confirmed that the plane landed at Tribhuvan International Airport without the wheel. “Although this is not a major issue, an investigation has been launched into the missing wheel,” he stated.

Passengers on board

Fortunately, none of the 62 people on the flight suffered any injuries. CAAN has grounded the aircraft while it thoroughly investigates what transpired.

This incident continues the string of near-misses that Buddha Air has experienced.

In early January, a Buddha Air flight heading to Bhadrapur experienced a “flame out” in its left engine, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing at Tribhuvan International Airport.

Even though these kinds of occurrences are uncommon, Nepal’s aviation safety record has drawn criticism; in the past, the European Union has blacklisted Nepali airlines for safety-related reasons.

Authorities are investigating the situation to strengthen safety precautions and avoid such incidents in the future.

Meanwhile, the travelers on Thursday’s aircraft are undoubtedly appreciative of the flight crew’s composure and professionalism in ensuring their safe return to Kathmandu.

Nepal’s aircraft are blacklisted by EU

International safety standards have been difficult for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to meet. As a result, Nepal’s aviation industry lacks adequate maintenance, supervision, and enforcement of laws.

Over the years, human error, weather, and technical malfunctions have caused a number of aviation mishaps and catastrophes in Nepal. These have cast doubt on Nepali Airlines’ dependability and security.

There have been worries about the local aviation authority’s inadequate aircraft inspection and surveillance. This has led to subpar maintenance procedures and noncompliance with international safety standards.

Airlines must follow international standards set by agencies like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as well as national laws.

The EU banned Nepali airlines from its airplanes due to failure to meet safety requirements.

The EU blacklisted Nepali airlines, including Nepal Airlines and Buddha Air, in 2013 due to ongoing issues.