March 10: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed Shree Airlines to ground all the aircraft of the company until security checks of the engines.     
According to the state-owned RSS, CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula said that the aviation regulatory body has decided to allow Shree Airlines to operate flights only after a thorough inspection of the engines.    
Niraula made it clear that the aircraft of the Shree Airlines would conduct flights only after security inspection from the technicians of CAAN, RSS reported.    
"The planes of Shree Airlines would get permission to fly only after the CAAN's technicians give permission after the security inspection of the engines. The planes are grounded after the incident of Thursday," RSS quoted Niraula as saying.    

A Sreee Airlines aircraft bound for Bhairahawa from Kathmandu had made an emergency landing on Thursday after one of its engines caught fire and the aircraft had to return back to Kathmandu from Dhading. No passengers or crew members were injured in the incident.
Manager of Shree Airlines Anil Manandhar said that the passengers of Shree Airlines had to suffer due to the sudden notice of the CAAN. He argued that the airline company had already scheduled 14 flights for Friday when they received the letter from CAAN to ground the aircraft.

CAAN on the other hand maintained that the security of passengers is of utmost priority.

Aviation safety has become a hot topic in Nepal due to its poor record. A Yeti Airlines aircraft with 72 people on board had crashed in Pokhara on January 15 while making a final  approach for landing. A preliminary report of air crash investigation had revealed that the engines of the ill-fated aircraft had no thrust causing the aircraft to stall. All 72 people on board the aircraft were killed. Following the incident, the regulatory body is under intense pressure to ensure safety of the aviation sector in Nepal.