Nepal: US-Bangla Airlines suspends Dhaka-Kathmandu flights March 14

Event

On Wednesday, March 14, Bangladeshi airline US-Bangla announced it has suspended all flights between Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) and Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) until further notice. The announcement came two days after a US-Bangla Airlines plane crashed at TIA, leaving at least 51 people dead. It is unclear when flights on this route may resume.

Context

There were 71 people aboard the plane that crashed on March 12, which took off from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC). According to local media sources, the plane crashed while attempting to land at the airport around 14:18. US-Bangla Airlines is a privately owned Bangladeshi airline headquartered in Dhaka.

Air safety is a persistent concern in Nepal, where over 70 plane or helicopter crashes have been reported since 1949. The majority of these incidents have been attributed to poor weather conditions, inexperienced pilots, and maintenance issues.

Advice

Potentially impacted travelers are advised to contact their airline for more information.