KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines is facing a serious operational crisis after both of its wide-body aircraft were grounded simultaneously, forcing the cancellation of multiple international flights and leaving approximately 1,500 passengers stranded in both directions.

The national flag carrier cancelled its Wednesday night Dubai flight and has since called off Thursday's scheduled services to Tokyo Narita and Dammam, Saudi Arabia — three of its key long-haul routes — with no immediate replacement aircraft available.

According to the airline's operations department, one wide-body aircraft was grounded after being struck by lightning while returning from Narita to Kathmandu on Wednesday. The aircraft is currently undergoing damage assessment at Tribhuvan International Airport, with engineers evaluating the extent of the strike's impact before any return to service can be authorised.

The second wide-body was sent to Bangkok on Wednesday for a borescope engine inspection at Thai Airways' Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility. The aircraft had flown passengers to Bangkok the previous day but could not return as scheduled due to technical issues identified during inspection. Nepal Airlines said it is working to bring the aircraft back to Kathmandu by Friday.

With both aircraft simultaneously out of service, Nepal Airlines has no wide-body capacity available for its long-haul network — leaving passengers on the cancelled Dubai, Narita, and Dammam routes in uncertainty until at least one aircraft is cleared to fly.

The airline has not yet announced rebooking arrangements for the approximately 1,500 affected passengers.