Air Accident / Sita Air Plane Loses Tyre during Landing in Nepal

Kathmandu, Sep 24: Touchdown at Juphal Airport in Dolpa turned tense on Thursday morning when a Sita Air plane lost its right rear tyre during landing, forcing the aircraft to halt on the runway and sparking immediate concern for the 16 people onboard.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Raj Giri, chief of Dolpa District Police Office, said: “The plane, carrying 16 people, including 13 passengers and three crew members, lost its right rear tyre while landing at around 8:25 a.m. All crew members and passengers are safe.”

The passengers included seven foreign nationals from France, Germany, and Belgium, along with six Nepali citizens. The aircraft had earlier departed from Nepalgunj Airport in southwestern Nepal before heading to Juphal, a vital air link for the remote Dolpa region.

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Following the incident, a video showing the tyre rolling down a slope circulated widely on social media. Police confirmed the aircraft remains stranded on the runway, awaiting inspection. “Necessary decisions will be taken regarding the aircraft once a technical team arrives to investigate its condition,” Giri added.

Nepal’s mountainous terrain makes aviation critical yet challenging, and the country has witnessed multiple air accidents in recent years. The Saurya Airlines crash in Kathmandu on July 24, 2024, which killed 18 of 19 people onboard, highlighted serious lapses in flight preparation, cargo handling, and regulatory oversight.

Nepal’s aviation safety record remains under scrutiny, with the European Union maintaining a ban on Nepali airlines in EU airspace since 2013.

Authorities have launched an investigation into Thursday’s incident, which fortunately caused no casualties. Further updates are expected once technical assessments are completed.

(IANS)