Its principles Nepal suspended three air traffic controllers and launched an investigation after a last-minute collision was avoided between two planes queuing to land at the capital’s Kathmandu International Airport, a civil aviation official said Sunday.

The incident unfolded on Friday when an Air India aircraft waiting at 19,000 feet (5,800 meters) due to heavy traffic to the airport suddenly lost altitude and nearly collided with a Nepal Airlines aircraft flying at 15,000 feet (4,572 meters). meters). Jagannath Nirula, civil aviation spokesman, told AFP.

According to the same source, “three air traffic controllers on duty have been suspended until further notice” and a commission of inquiry has been formed to investigate the events.

The spokesperson also revealed that a letter had been sent to India’s aviation regulator requesting an “investigation into possible Air India pilot error”.

Inadequate aircraft maintenance and lax enforcement of safety regulations, despite stringent international recommendations, continue to put pressure on the country’s aviation sector.

The European Union has banned all Nepalese airlines from entering its airspace for security reasons.

The Himalayan nation’s most recent aviation tragedy unfolded just in January when a Yeti Airlines plane crashed on approach at Pokhara Airport (center), killing all 72 people on board. It was the worst accident of its kind in Nepal since 1992.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}