Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) was shut down for 1 hour and 24 minutes on Friday due to a fire set by protesters in the bushes between the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) headquarters and the airport terminal.
According to CAAN Deputy Spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul, the fire in the western part of the airport led to the closure of operations from 4:13 PM to 5:37 PM. While the airport has yet to release detailed data on the number of diverted flights, both domestic and international flights were affected.
Fire and Airport Operations Disruption
The fire was brought under control by four airport fire trucks, supported by seven water tankers. An official from the airport’s fire station stated that the blaze spread after protesters threw flaming debris and tires, along with tear gas shells fired by police, into the airport bushes. The resulting smoke severely impacted flight operations.
Before setting the fire, protesters also threw stones at the CAAN headquarters, located south of the main road, breaking at least a dozen glass windows. The demonstrators had taken control of the road in front of the airport at around 2:30 PM, and police managed to disperse them by 4:30 PM. As tensions escalated, airport staff rushed to safety.
According to TIA Director Rinjee Sherpa, the fire started after burning tires thrown by protesters landed inside the airport’s perimeter fence. Fortunately, no physical infrastructure was damaged.
Flight Disruptions
The Tribhuvan international airport closure forced the diversion of several domestic and international flights. A Shree Airlines flight from Biratnagar to Kathmandu had to return to Biratnagar, while two Buddha Air flights were redirected to Pokhara and one to Janakpur. Similarly, two Yeti Airlines flights were diverted to Bhairahawa, one to Pokhara, and another to Janakpur.
On the international side, a FlyDubai aircraft was put on hold in the skies above Simara for an hour, while a Thai AirAsia flight from Bangkok circled for 90 minutes before being cleared to land.
Authorities reopened the airport once the fire was fully extinguished and flight operations resumed gradually. However, concerns remain over security lapses and the impact of such disruptions on Nepal’s aviation sector.
