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. 

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. 

 
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