Nepal Airlines flight 757 — from Kathmandu to Hong Kong re-scheduled for 8 pm today — was cancelled at the proverbial eleventh hour. It was also scheduled to fly to Dubai after returning from Hong Kong.The 757 Boeing, which took off from TIA at 1:15 pm today, made an ‘emergency’ landing back just afterhalf-an-hour of take-off as it was just crossing Biratnagar. The Boeing was bound to Hong Kong (which is four-and-a-half-hour flight) with 144 passengers, 11 crew members, including four pilots.The Nepal Airlines Corporation authorities, however, denied that it was an emergency landing. According to RB Shrestha, Operation Director of NAC, who was flying the aircraft, the decision to return was taken as a “precautionary step” as “no compromise could be made on passengers’ safety.”“After the failure of anti-ice system of the right engine, we thought it is safe to return,” Shrestha said adding that failure of anti-ice system is actually not a dangerous situation but the present weather (monsoon) could lead to more ice formation. “Though the problem was not a major one, I did not want to take any chance,” Shrestha added.The only aircraft that has been doing the international flights non-stop has been in trouble since Saturday.Raju KC, Corporate Director of NAC, had, however, earlier confirmed that the flight was re-scheduled and would fly at 8 pm.The cancellation caused inconvenience to the stra-nded passengers. Basanta K Gurung, who was to report to his company in Hong Kong, said, “What if the company does not accept me due to delay?”
Resignations sought
The NAC Employees Coordination Committee demanded resignation of the entire management and the board members of the corporation on Thursday. Issuing a press statement, the committee stated NAC management should resign immediately since “it has failed to resolve the issues confronting the Corporation for a long time.” They accused the management of inefficiency for not taking timely decision on engine overhaul and module-4 repair of the Boeing stranded in Hong Kong for last 17 months for which the company is paying a high rent
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