KATHMANDU, NEPAL — A potential mid-air collision between an Air India and a Nepal Airlines aircraft was narrowly avoided last Friday, as warning systems alerted pilots to take immediate action.


The incident prompted the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to suspend three air traffic controller employees for "carelessness," a CAAN spokesperson said on Sunday.

The near-collision occurred when a Nepal Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and an Air India flight from New Delhi were both approaching Kathmandu. The Air India jet was descending from 19,000 feet, while the Nepal Airlines aircraft was flying at 15,000 feet in the same area. The radar spotted that the two airliners were in close proximity, prompting the Nepal Airlines aircraft to descend to 7,000 feet.

A three-member committee was formed by the Civil Aviation Authority to investigate the incident.