A Flydubai airliner en route to Dubai encountered an engine fire shortly after lifting off from Kathmandu, and the trigger was identified as a bird strike. The crew executed standard safety procedures, and the aircraft proceeded to land safely at Dubai International Airport. Official records show the aircraft touched down at 00:11 local time, aligning with 23:11 Moscow time according to the airline’s press communications.
Flight FZ 576 departed Kathmandu Airport with Dubai International Airport as its destination. Reports indicate a bird was struck during takeoff, prompting immediate action from both cockpit and cabin crews as part of routine safety measures. The planned arrival window in Dubai was 00:14 local time, or 23:14 Moscow time, with subsequent updates to the official timing records following the incident.
Video footage released by witnesses captured the moment the aircraft experienced a fire soon after lifting off from Kathmandu. The visuals fueled broader discussion while investigators and airline officials confirmed that all safety checks were completed and the aircraft continued toward its destination in Dubai after precautionary steps were taken.
A Nepalese government official overseeing Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation stated that the aircraft remained on a safe course toward its destination. The ministry affirmed that crew members followed established emergency and safety protocols designed to manage events of this nature, keeping passenger safety as the top priority throughout the sequence of events.
Air travel authorities in both Nepal and the United Arab Emirates coordinated ongoing checks to ensure the incident did not disrupt the broader flight schedule. The airline indicated that the same aircraft or its fleet would resume normal service once deemed safe, and that flight operations would continue with standard procedures to manage in-flight concerns of this kind. An assessment of the engine and the impact of the bird strike was expected to guide any future operational decisions for the carrier, which maintains routes across South Asia and the Middle East with a focus on safety and reliability. The incident underscored the importance of rapid response, clear crew communication, and robust safety protocols in maintaining service continuity for travelers who rely on Flydubai for connections between Kathmandu and Dubai, among other destinations. This situation reinforces the airline’s commitment to passenger welfare and transparent reporting, as stated by the airline press service and corroborated by government and aviation authorities.