Cathay Pacific A330 Undergoes Engine Replacement in Kathmandu After Being Grounded for Weeks.

Kathmandu – A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 has been stuck at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) for over a week after a loud bang was heard from its right-hand engine during takeoff earlier last week.

After initial inspections, the airline’s engineers determined the engine needed to be replaced. On July 23, Cathay Pacific began the engine change, with a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft flying in a replacement engine to Kathmandu.

The A330 will remain grounded until the swap and post-maintenance checks are complete. Once the work wraps up, the aircraft will undergo test runs before returning to service.

Cathay Pacific A330 undergoing Engine replacement at TIA, Kathmandu, Nepal. 24th July 2025.

No injuries or additional issues were reported from the incident, but the aircraft’s extended downtime has drawn attention from spotters and passengers at KTM. The stuck passengers were provided with hotel accommodations and were offered flight the next day.

The engine replacement is going on in front of the NAC Hangar. The work is being carried out in front of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) hangar, as Tribhuvan International Airport lacks any hangar facilities capable of accommodating even an Airbus A320, forcing all heavy maintenance to be done in open ramp conditions. Challenging Monsoon weather might be a problem for the engine change.