It was a close shave for a Nepal Airlines aircraft today after authorities noticed the plane carrying 16 people on board had the wire of its nose gear steering-wheel snapped.
The Twin Otter aircraft 9N-AB averted the mishap at Jumla airport in remote mountainous region in northwest Nepal and the Nepalgunj-bound plane was grounded at around 1 pm, according to Jumla airport chief Pawan Shrestha.
The crew members switched off the engine after the wire of its nose gear steering-wheel snapped.
"The problem was noticed after the aircraft had moved 540 metres on the runway," Shrestha said.
Later the security personnel, aircraft staff and passengers pushed the plane to the side.
A team of engineers and necessary equipment will be brought for the maintenance of the plane tomorrow, the airport authorities said.
Passengers said the accident was averted due to the alertness of crew members.
Two deadly plane accidents in Nepal in February highlighted the country's dismal air safety record even though air travel is hugely popular as there is only a limited road network in the country.
On February 24, a Twin-Otter plane operated by Tara Air crashed in Myagdi district in western Nepal, killing all 23 people including two children and two foreigners.
Two days later, two pilots were killed and nine passengers were injured when a small passenger plane crash-landed in the country's hilly midwest.
Several areas, mainly in the mountains and hills, are accessible only on foot or by air. Also, birds have often posed a safety concern for Kathmandu's airport located close to forested hills.
