According to reports on Sunday, a major accident was prevented on Friday when an Air India and Nepal Airlines plane came dangerously close to colliding over Kathmandu. The mid-air collision was avoided after warning systems alerted the pilots of both planes, averting a major tragedy. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended two air traffic controller department employees for “carelessness,” according to CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niroula.
On Friday morning, a Nepal Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu and an Air India flight from New Delhi almost collided. According to Niroula, the Air India plane was descending from 19,000 feet, while the Nepal Airlines plane was flying at 15,000 feet in the same location.
The Nepal Airlines plane descended to 7,000 feet after the radar indicated that the two planes were close, according to the spokesperson. According to reports, the CAAN has formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident and suspended the two officers in charge of the control room at the time of the incident.