Seventeen Onboard Remain Unharmed after Aircraft Tire Failure in Dolpa

A Sita Air flight suffered a rear‑tire failure while landing at Jufal Airport in Dolpa district, western Nepal, on September 24.

The incident happened at about 08:25 local time when the aircraft’s right‑hand rear tyre detached from the landing gear. Sixteen people – thirteen passengers and three crew members – were aboard, and all escaped injury.

The manifest listed seven foreign nationals from France, Germany and Belgium, together with six Nepali passengers. A video posted online captured the tyre rolling down the runway slope, after which the plane came to a stop.

Police officials confirmed that the aircraft remains on the runway awaiting a technical team’s inspection. Further actions will be determined after the safety assessment.

The aircraft had taken off from Nepalgunj Airport and was headed for Jufal. Dolpa is a sparsely populated, mountainous area where aviation incidents have been relatively frequent.

The accident follows the July 24 Saurya Airlines crash that killed 18 of the 19 people on board, raising serious concerns over flight preparation, cargo handling and regulatory supervision.

Since 2013, the European Union has listed Nepal on its aviation safety blacklist, preventing Nepali airlines from flying in EU airspace.

Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the tyre loss while emphasizing that passenger safety protocols are being strictly enforced.