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Astha Basnet, CEO of Buddha Air, told CNN Travel that the confusion was due to two factors: “communication failures and not following detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs).”
In simpler terms, it was just a mix-up.
Due to weather conditions, many Nepalese airports open later in the day during winter. Because of that shortened window, it’s not unusual for multiple flights to leave in a short amount of time, and that obviously created confusion.
Still, despite the surprise passengers must have received when they arrived at the wrong airport, the situation was reportedly relatively calm. Once Buddha Air realized what had happened, the pilots took the passengers to Janakpur as planned. There are no direct flights between Pokhara and Janakpur, so the airline received special permission to fly there.
The 69 passengers on board, 66 adults and three children, reached Janakpur safely, albeit a few hours late. No mechanical problems were reported with the plane itself.
Buddha Air is a Nepal-based airline that was founded in 1996 and began operating the following year.
Basnet confirms that the airline’s crew will receive additional training following the flight confusion and that the airline has modified its existing flight manuals.
Passengers realized something was going on when they looked out the window and at their Google Maps apps.
