Thousands stranded due to Nepal runway closure

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu’s international airport was closed for a second straight day on Thursday, leaving thousands stranded at the start of the tourist season, after a plane skidded off its only runway.
The Indian Air Force flew in experts and equipment to help Nepal remove the Turkish Airlines A330, which had to be evacuated after it skidded off the runway with 224 passengers on board early on Wednesday.
All the passengers and crew were unhurt.
The head of the civil aviation authority, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, said the Nepal army, police and the Indian experts would work tirelessly until the plane was moved.
International flights have been suspended until 10 am (0415 GMT) on Friday, affecting about 12,000 passengers so far.
“Once the airport reopens, it will stay open around the clock for three days in order to ease the backlog of flights,” Suman said at a press conference.
Scores of travellers swarmed Kathmandu airport on Thursday for information, among them Lita dela Cruz, a tourist from the Philippines who said she was desperate to fly back to London where she works.