KATMANDU, Nepal -- Nepal's state run airline sacrificed two goats earlier this week, hoping it would please the gods and resolve technical problems with a troubled jet, officials said Thursday.
One of the airline's two Boeing 757 aircraft has been grounded for maintenance since last month. The other jet has suffered technical problems that forced the airline to cancel several flights, stranding passengers.
Hoping to end those problems, the airline sacrificed the goats earlier this week, according to an airline official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
It is common in predominantly Hindu Nepal to sacrifice animals hoping for good luck and blessings.
A photograph published in the Kantipur newspaper earlier this week showed the two goats sacrificed in front of the plane Sunday. The photographer was detained for hours for taking photographs in a restricted area.
