KATHMANDU: A Qatar Airways flight bound for Kathmandu was diverted to Dhaka after Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) suspended operations due to a malfunction in its airfield lighting system. The issue has halted both arrivals and departures for over three and a half hours.
The aircraft circled Kathmandu’s airspace more than 33 times before being redirected to Dhaka. Earlier, a Fly Dubai flight had also been diverted to Delhi.
Several domestic flights were grounded, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Airport officials said a technical team has been deployed to resolve the lighting problem and that efforts are underway to resume operations as soon as possible.
The airfield lighting system provides illumination for takeoffs and landings at night, and the fault has temporarily disrupted all nighttime flight operations.
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