KATHMANDU, MAR 08 - The only international airport in the country which resumed flight operations on Saturday night after stalling for four consecutive days saw an unprecedented tight schedule throughout Sunday with three aircrafts diverting towards India.Regular international flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport ( TIA ) came to a complete standstill from Wednesday after a Turkish Airlines' Airbus 330 aircraft skidded off the runway and nosedived in a grassy section between the runway and the taxiway. With the renewal of operation the onrush of flights to and from Kathmandu dramatically surged with 15 flights taking off and landing on Saturday night alone. Despite a pre-schedule of the flights the unprecedented flow of traffic on Sunday did not make it easy for anyone at the TIA . Many planes jammed the runway, parking areas and the taxi way while many other planes remained on 'holding' in the sky waiting for approach.
TIA Civil Aviation Office Deputy Director Teknath Sitaula said a total of 15 flights had taken off or landed still 6 am while 38 flights carried out its regular operations throughout the day. The TIA has remained open for 24 hours after resuming service. Three planes on holding in the sky diverted to India's Kolkata and Lucknow after a failed bid at landing due to air traffic jam. Deputy Director Sitaula said the traffic was gradually 'opening up' despite the overload. A total of 238 passengers were on board when the A 330 aircraft skidded off the runway after landing in low visibility on Wednesday.
Passengers made off relatively unscathed apart from an isolated case of a panic attack.
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