Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority has grounded the entire fleet of Shree Airlines, pending engine safety checks on its aircraft. Following the grounding, the airline has begun cancelling its flights as the inspection is in progress. Shree Airlines currently flies a mixed fleet of Bombardier CRJ jets and De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprops.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is firm on the stand that Shree Airlines' planes will only be able to fly again once its technicians have conducted thorough security checks of all their engines. Post the Yeti airline crash in Nepal earlier this year, aircraft security checks have become stringent, with CAAN keeping a close eye on the operators.
The news comes on the backdrop of emergency landing of one of the airline’s planes recently. A Shree Airlines Dash 8-Q400, bound for Bhairahawa diverted back to Kathmandu after an engine fire indication. The plane had 78 passengers and crew onboard.
Speaking to Reuters, Anil Manandhar, Corporate Manager, Shree Airlines said: “The pilot reported an indication of fire in the right engine, and the plane was diverted to Kathmandu immediately."
CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niroula confirmed that the plane made a safe and injury-free landing, adding that there was no indication of any fire when it landed.