Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has officially reopened after being temporarily closed on Saturday evening due to a technical issue in the runway’s airfield lighting system. The disruption, which began around 5:30 PM, had forced both domestic and international flight operations to be halted for several hours.
According to TIA Director and Spokesperson Rinji Sherpa, the problem occurred in the airfield lighting system, an essential component that provides illumination for aircraft takeoff and landing during nighttime or low-visibility conditions. “The exact cause of the issue is under investigation. A detailed assessment will be conducted to determine what triggered the malfunction,” Sherpa stated.
Flights Diverted Amid Disruption
During the closure, several international flights en route to Kathmandu were diverted to nearby airports. Qatar Airways was redirected to Dhaka, Bangladesh; Korean Air was diverted to New Delhi, India; and Fly Dubai was sent to Lucknow, India.
While some aircraft were kept on hold in the skies, others had to divert due to the prolonged shutdown. Domestic flights were grounded at TIA until the issue was resolved.
Normal Operations Resume After 9:30 PM
After several hours of repair and technical inspection, airport authorities confirmed that the lighting issue had been successfully resolved. Flight operations resumed gradually after 9:30 PM, with planes beginning to approach for landing shortly thereafter.
The resumption of operations brought relief to hundreds of passengers who had been affected by delays, diversions, and cancellations. Officials at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) have assured that maintenance and inspection procedures will be strengthened to prevent similar technical disruptions in the future.
