Nepal says 'no proof' flydubai plane suffered bird strike

Fire is seen on a FlyDubai airplane after it takes off from Kathmandu airport in Nepal April 24, 2023 in this picture obtained from social media. @SubasTheOne/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's civil aviation authority disputed on Tuesday whether a flydubai plane had been hit by a bird strike in Nepali airspace, calling the United Arab Emirates carrier's account of the incident "misleading".

The airline had said a flight carrying 167 passengers from the Nepali capital Kathmandu to Dubai experienced a bird strike during take-off late on Monday.