Technical Glitch Halts All Flights at Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport
A technical glitch in the runway lighting system caused a significant disruption at Nepal's primary international airport, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The incident occurred on Saturday evening, affecting both domestic and international flights.
The issue was a short circuit in the airfield lighting system, which was detected at 5:30 PM local time. This led to the immediate halt of all flight operations, with at least five flights on hold. The airport's runway, a crucial component for safe landings and takeoffs, went dark due to the problem.
According to Renji Sherpa, a spokesperson for TIA, the short circuit might have been caused by rainwater seeping into the wire lanes of the runway lights. This technical glitch resulted in the diversion of flights from Dubai (Fly Dubai), Qatar (Qatar Airways), and Korea (Korean Airways) to Simara. Korean Airways, facing a fuel shortage, was further redirected to New Delhi, India.
Buddha Air, a domestic carrier, had to return a flight from Janakpur to its origin due to the holding at Simara.
Runway lighting is a critical system designed to guide aircraft during low visibility, especially at night. These lights mark the runway's edges, centreline, and threshold, providing essential visual cues for pilots. The repair works are currently underway to restore normal operations at TIA.
This incident highlights the importance of maintaining airport infrastructure to ensure safe and efficient air travel.
