KATHMANDU: It was a bad for Nepali aviation with the Tribhuvan International Airport shut time and again today and flights diverted first due to a Buddha Air Beechcraft crash, then a bomb scare on a Delhi-bound Spicejet flight, and yet again due to a disabled plane on the runway.

After the morning crash, a hoax bomb alarm by an elderly passenger on SpiceJet plane sparked panic at TIA, halting services for more than six hours.

According to police, American Buddhist Threse Joanmarian (62) allegedly told her co-passengers that a bomb had been planted on the flight. The four women passengers immediately alerted the crew of the plane which was about to take off at around 10.48 am.

All 179 passengers were immediately evacuated. But a thorough search by Nepali Army Bomb Disposal Squad and four sniffer dogs failed to find any bomb. The SpiceJet resumed its flight at 5.50 pm.

Police have taken Joanmarian into custody. "If the investigation reveals that she created the panic deliberately, she would be punished," said Narayan Prasad Bastakoti, TIA security chief.

According to him, initial investigation proved that Joanmarian was not mentally sound.

Due to the rumour, Air Arabia's flight to Kathmandu was diverted to Delhi; Thai Air and Silk Air flights to Calcutta; Gulf Air, Oman Air and Bahrain Air were diverted to Lucknow.

As if this was not enough, a Nepal Airline aircraft's wheel got punctured on the runway and three international flights to Kathmandu were diverted to various Indian airports.

TIA closed

Airport shut during morning rush hour, flights diverted

TIA shut again due to bomb scare on Spicejet flight

Airport closed again in the evening due to disabled plane on the runway

International flights diverted to Indian airports