Malaysia Airlines flight to Nepal hit by birds, passengers safe

A flock of birds shattered the windshields of a Malaysia Airlines jet as it landed in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, but all 180 passengers and crew were safe, an airport official said today.

The birds hit the Boeing 737 late on Friday, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, chief of the Civil Aviation Authority Nepal, said.

Birds hitting aircraft are a common problem at Kathmandu international airport, ringed by forested hills.

Suman said the aircraft returned home after the windshields were repaired.

However, Malaysia Airlines has released a statement confirming the incident, but denying that the windshields were shattered.

"Upon landing, the aircraft was inspected by the engineer on duty. It was found that the aircraft’s landing light lens cover was broken. The aircraft was grounded for the night and the broken lens was subsequently replaced," Malaysia Airlines said.

"Please note that it was not the windshield that was broken as reported," it added.

An international search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has entered its third week, with still no confirmed trace of the Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8 enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.