Air Kasthamandap plane crash-lands in Kalikot; 2 killed

 

KATHMANDU: Two crew members died when an Air Kasthamandap plane bound to Jumla from Nepalgunj crash-landed in Chilkhaya of Kalikot of mid-western  Nepal.

The deceased have been identified as Dinesh Neupane (pilot) and Santosh Rana (co-pilot). Rana is the son of former minister, CPN-UML central leader and lawmaker Dal Bahadur Rana.

The American news agency Associated Press quoting Padam lal Lamichane, a government official, said that the aircraft appeared to have technical problem and attempted to land on a farmer's field near the top of a mountain.

The Rastriya Samachar Samiti reported that nine passengers including a minor were injured in the incident.

Of the injured, the condition of one person is said to be critical.

They are receiving treatment at a health post in Chilkhaya.

The front part of the ill-fated plane is reported to have been damaged completely.

A chopper and a team of security personnel have been sent to the incident site for rescue operation.

Passengers

Megh Raj Giri

Jagadamba Khatri

Ganesh Bhattachan

Sonali Bhattachan

Laxmi Sunar

Govinda Prasad Bhandari

Laxman Khadka

Dhananjaya Khatri

One infant

 

PM offers condolences to victims' kin

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed condolences to the families of crew members killed in the incident.

The Prime Minister also wished for speedy recovery of the injured, read a statement issued by PM's press advisor Pamod Dahal.

Prime Minister Oli also directed the concerned authorities to carry out rescue operation at the earliest and manage health treatment for the injured persons, the statement further read.

Rescue team mobilised

Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel  informed that a rescue team has already been sent to the incident site in coordination with Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Bhim Rawal.

Pokharel further informed that Devananda Upadhyay, general manager of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), is preparing to send a technical team from Kathmandu to the incident site.

(UPDATED)

Jumla-bound Air Kasthamandap plane crash-lands in Kalikot; injuries reported

KATHMANDU: An Air Kasthamandap plane bound to Jumla from Nepalgunj crash-landed in Chilkhaya of Kalikot of mid-western  Nepal on Friday.

Confirming the incident, Kalikot Chief District Officer Pradeep Shrestha, told THT Online over phone from the district headquarters that the incident occurred while force landing the aircraft.

"Fatalities have not been reported yet, but we are told that most of them are injured."

He added that the plane has not been burned down and hinted it would be still possible to rescue the passengers alive.

[googlemaps https://www.google.com.np/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=zmcSkZYaZ1Ms.k6zVWG_T4fTg&w=500&h=333]

The Kalikot District Police Office also confirmed the accident.

Fatalities are likely, but not confirmed yet, a police official told THT Online over phone from the district headquarters.

He said locals had reported the incident to police around one hour ago.

"We have sent a team to further probe," he said, "But it takes at least five hours to reach the incident site."

CDO Shrestha said police personnel from nearby stations have been directed to carry out the rescue operation immediately.

The small aircraft with call sign 9N-AJB had taken off from Nepalgunj at 12:30 pm today.

There were 11 persons including two crew members on board the ill-fated plane.

The incident occurred while the aircraft was trying to make an emergency landing, sources said.

The cause behind the incident is yet to be established.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, a Tara Twin-Otter plane had crashed in Myagdi district in western Nepal, killing all 23 people, including three crew members and two children, on board.

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