KATHMANDU: A mouse has grounded Nepal Airlines aircraft at Tribhuvan International Airport this afternoon after the rodent was spotted running through cabin on flight from New Delhi, according to a source at the country’s sole international airport.

A Boeing 757 plane of NAC has been grounded after a passenger reportedly sighted a rodent scurrying around the plane a few minutes after the aircraft took off from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for Kathmandu, an engineer who witnessed the scene at TIA told THT. Rat traps were laid and the doors closed, he added.

A team of air safety inspectors including captain BM Amatya from the Civil Aviation Authority also visited TIA after receiving a complaint from the passenger.

“NAC has already cancelled its Bangalore flight due to lack of aircraft while uncertainty also clouds over its late night flight to Malaysia,” a NAC source shared.

NAC has now only 9N-AKX Airbus 320 to commence its international operations. Airlines officials shared that they were facing a tough time to manage scheduled international operations after its 9N-AKW Airbus 320 aircraft was grounded in New Delhi since December 25.

NAC now operates two (9N-AKX Airbus and Boeing 757) aircraft in international destinations.