Airline sacrifices goats to appease sky god

KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Officials at Nepal’s state-run airline have
sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god,
following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the
carrier said Tuesday.

Nepal Airlines, which has two Boeing aircraft, has had to suspend some services in recent weeks due the problem.

The goats were sacrificed in front of the troublesome aircraft
Sunday at Nepal’s only international airport in Kathmandu in accordance
with Hindu traditions, an official said.

“The snag in the plane has now been fixed and the aircraft has
resumed its flights,” said Raju K.C., a senior airline official,
without explaining what the problem had been.

Local media last week blamed the company’s woes on an electrical
fault. The carrier runs international flights to five cities in Asia.

It is common in Nepal to sacrifice animals like goats and buffaloes to appease different Hindu deities.