Buddha Air plane, with 76 people on board, makes VOR landing at Tribhuvan International Airport

Here's what Buddha Air said

In a press release, the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) announced that Buddha Air's (BHA953) made a landing after reporting a "flame out" in the left engine after take-off at 10:37 am (NST).

"The aircraft, Buddha Air flight no BHA953, took off from Kathmandu at 10:37 am (0453 UTC) carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, to Chandragadhi (Bhadrapur) and at 43 nautical miles east reported flame out. After flying on a single engine and following a full emergency declaration, it returned back to Kathmandu. From the Guran's point using the VOR approach landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 11:15 am (UTC 0530) safely," Tribhuvan International Airport said in a release.

Separate flight being arranged for passengers

The aircraft is currently undergoing technical inspection, while a separate aircraft will be arranged for passengers, the statement further reads. 

According to the officials, the airport in Kathmandu also was closed for a brief period of time. "After the landing of the aircraft, the airport is now functional and open," a spokesperson of Tribhuvan International Airport told ANI over phone. 

Recently, due to increased demands of the pilgrims and tourists from Nepal wanting to visit the Hindu pilgrim places in India, Buddha Air announced to increase its flights from Kathmandu to Varanasi to three per week.

Previously, it operated two commercial flights per week to Varanasi from the Tribhuvan International Airport, announced to increase it to three with flights every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

(With ANI inputs)