(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-31 09:11

KATHMANDU - A Boeing 757 of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) had to return to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in the capital Kathmandu after detecting technical problems Thursday afternoon.

The Hong Kong bound aircraft returned to the airport after problems were detected in the anti-ice system of the aircraft, local media houses' website nepalnews.com reported.

The plane took off at 12:10 pm local time (0625 GMT) and returned to the TIA after 15 minutes, a source at the TIA was quoted as saying.

The aircraft was sent for technical examination immediately after it returned to the airport. The source, however, claimed that no problem was detected in the aircraft during the examination.

"The plane is now ready to fly to Hong Kong at 8:00 pm Thursday. All the passengers have been asked to wait at the airport," the source said.

The plane was brought into operation on Thursday after being grounded at the airport for several days as the NAC pilots refused to fly it after it showed frequent technical glitches.

The pilots had finally agreed to resume flights after the NAC management agreed to repair the aircraft according to the guidelines of the manufactures.

Another NAC Boeing has been grounded at the Brunei International Airport for several weeks. A few months earlier, the airlines had to cancel all its international flights after both the aircraft were grounded due to technical glitches.