The only international airport of the country has come to a halt after a Turkish Airlines plane (TK726) skidded off the runway and veered onto the grassy shoulder after losing balance during landing on Wednesday.

 The aircraft was carrying 224 people aboard. All international flights had to be cancelled as the crashed Turkish plane has blocked the runway.

Indian Air Force’s Hercules aircraft arrived here at the TIA at 1 pm on Thursday, with necessary equipments to clear the runway and a technical team has been working to clear the runway.

The aircraft’s body, which was lifted on Friday morning with the support of airbags, tilted off balance late in the evening because the aircraft lost its nose gear, which would have helped prop up the plane.

The TIA will be kept open for 24 hours after the resumption of flight operations to ease the overflow of the stranded passengers, TIA Manager Purna Chudal said.

Nepal government had requested the Indian government to assist in transporting the removal kit to tow the stranded jet.

All international flights had to be cancelled as the crashed Turkish plane has blocked the runway.