KATHMANDU, Sept 4: A twin-engine plane of Sita Air experienced an engine failure within three minutes of take-off from Lukla today.
The aircraft with a call sign '9NHJH' left the Lukla Airport at 8:21 am for Kathmandu and its right engine stopped functioning in course of the flight.
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Despite the technical snag, the plane was safely landed at Tribhuvan International Airport, said Imanath Adhikari, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal's Lukla in-charge.
There were only three crew members including Captain Bharat Thapa in the aircraft who safely landed it at TIA at 8:51 am. It was returning to Kathmandu after dropping tourists at Lukla.
Had the engine failed before the take-off, a disaster might have occurred, said Adhikari.