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TIA to remain closed till Saturday morning, works underway to clear runway

Xinhua, March 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

Measures are underway to clear off the runway of Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Nepal that has been blocked by the Turkish Airlines aircraft that skidded off the runway on Wednesday morning.

At a press conference at TIA on Friday afternoon, the authorities informed that TIA will remain closed till 10 a.m. Saturday as the works are underway for clearance of runway.

Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said a team of 12 technicians from Air India has been working since Friday afternoon to remove the aircraft from runway.

A 16-meter air bladder has been used to uphold the Airbus A330 for the replacement of wheels that have been completely damaged. According to officials, among four wheels in each side, three wheels have been completely damaged in the left side whereas one has been damaged in the right. "We cannot exactly announce when the works will be completed and the flights will be operated," Suman added.

The Indian Air Force's Hercules aircraft arrived at TIA on Thursday noon along with aircraft removal kit to remove the airline from grassy shoulder.

Following the closure of airport, thousands of passengers have been stranded in the airport in Nepal. CAAN is planning to move the Turkish aircraft to a remote parking area following clearance and to operate international flights round the clock for a few days. Endi