Nepal plane that went missing with 22 on board found after 6 hours

After nearly six hours, the aircraft has been found in Kowang of Mustang. However, the status of the aircraft is yet to be ascertained, according to the Tribhuvan International Airport chief.

New Delhi: A twin-engine aircraft from Nepal carrying 19 passengers including four Indian nationals went missing after the airport authorities lost contact with it at around 9:55 am on Sunday. The aircraft 9 NAET had a total of 22 people on board including the crew and was flying from Pokhara to Jomsom on a 15-minute scheduled flight. After nearly six hours, the aircraft has been found in Kowang of Mustang. However, the status of the aircraft is yet to be ascertained, according to the Tribhuvan International Airport chief.

According to Army spokesperson Narayan Silwal, locals told them the Tara Air plane crashed at the mouth of the Lamche river under the landslide of Manapathi Himal. Nepal Army is moving towards the site from the ground and air route. Among the total 22 people on board, three of the passengers were Japanese nationals, two were Germans and thirteen were Nepalis in addition to three crew members and four Indians.

The last contact was made in the Lete Pass region shortly after the plane took off, informed the airport officials. The officials also have an unconfirmed report about a loud noise reported in the Ghasa region of Jomsom, informed an air traffic controller at Jomsom Airport. Taking the cognisance of the matter, the Home Ministry had deployed two private helicopters from Mustang and Pokhara for the search for missing aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of India Kathmandu took to Twitter to issue an emergency number and informed that the families of the trapped had been contacted. "Tara Air flight 9NAET that took off from Pokhara at 9.55 AM today with 22 people on board, including 4 Indians, has gone missing. A search and rescue operation is on. The embassy is in touch with their family. Our emergency hotline number:+977-9851107021," the tweet posted from the embassy's official handle read.

"The aircraft was seen over the sky of Jomsom in Mustang district and then had diverted to Mt. Dhaulagiri after which it hadn't come into contact," Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma informed. Meanwhile, the police officials also reassured they have deployed helicopters for the search for the missing aircraft. "We are deploying a helicopter to the area for the search operation,” Ram Kumar Dani, DSP of District Police Office, Mustang said.

The area has been receiving heavy rains over the past couple of days, though the flights have been operating normally. The route where the plane went missing is popular for tourists and Indian and Nepalese pilgrims who visit the revered Muktinath temple situated on the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass in Mustang. (With Agency Inputs)