KATHMANDU, Sept. 9 — Operations at Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport came to a standstill on Tuesday as authorities canceled all flights citing security concerns.
Both international and domestic flights were grounded from midday, leaving passengers stranded. Airport officials issued an apology for the sudden disruption.
Hansraj Pandey, the airport’s general manager, said flight operations were suspended after smoke was spotted in Kathmandu’s Koteshwor area at around 12:45 p.m. local time. “The airport has not been closed, nor will we close it,” he clarified.
Despite the airport remaining formally open, travel disruptions prevented flight crews from reaching the facility, effectively halting departures. Domestic carriers, including Buddha Air, also suspended services citing safety risks.
