Co-pilot hospitalised with head injuries; six passengers discharged after minor treatment
KATHMANDU, JANUARY 3
Seven people, including a co-pilot, were injured after a Buddha Air ATR-72 aircraft overran the runway while landing at Bhadrapur Airport in Jhapa on Friday night.
According to Jhapa District Police Office, the aircraft operating Kathmandu–Bhadrapur flight (call sign 901) overshot the eastern end of the runway by around 300 metres at about 9:10 pm, plunging into grassy and muddy terrain.
There were 51 passengers, four crew members and one aircraft engineer on board at the time of the incident. Among the injured is 24-year-old co-pilot Sushant Shrestha of Lalitpur-4, who sustained head and facial injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at Omsai Pathibhara Hospital in Bhadrapur.
The other injured passengers were identified as Sabin Jogi (40) of Bhadrapur-10, Presika Adhikari (20) of Birtamod-7, Sumitra Jogi (42) of Birtamod-1, Kamalprasad Kutuwal (28) of Damak-1, and Muna Ghatani (40) and Priya Ghatani (16) of Kathmandu-16. Police said all six were discharged after receiving minor treatment.
Superintendent of Police Rajan Limbu said a rescue team of around 70 personnel was immediately mobilised following the incident. All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft and the injured were promptly taken to hospital.
The aircraft had departed Kathmandu at 8:23 pm and met with the accident during landing. Authorities are continuing to assess the cause of the runway overrun.
