• Flydubai spokesperson told Reuters plane scheduled to land in Dubai 00:14 local time

DUBAI: A Flydubai flight from Katmandu to Dubai experienced a bird strike during takeoff but is now heading to the United Arab Emirates, the company said on Monday.

Jagannath Niroula, spokesperson for Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said in a statement to Reuters an engine caught fire on the Flydubai Boeing 737-800 plane with 167 passengers on board, shortly after takeoff from Katmandu and the fire had been brought under control.

Fly Dubai plane catches fire on takeoff from Kathmandu airport, tries to land pic.twitter.com/jVaawRlwnV

— S p r i n t e r F a c t o r y (@Sprinterfactory) April 24, 2023

“Flydubai flight number 576, (Boeing 737-800) Katmandu to Dubai flight is normal now and proceeding to her destination Dubai as per the flight plan,” the civil aviation authority said in a tweet.

The Flydubai spokesperson told Reuters the plane was scheduled to land in Dubai at 00:14 local time.

Reuters