Nepal: Missing Plane Found In Mustang District, Rescue Operation Called Off Due To Snowfall

The aircraft is carrying 4 Indian and 3 Japanese nationals.The remaining were Nepali citizens & the aircraft had 22 passengers including the crew.

Representational Image

Source : ANI

New Delhi: Tara Air's 9 NAET twin-engine aircraft which had lost contact with the authorities on Sunday morning has been found in Kowang village of Mustang district, said the Tribhuvan International Airport chief, reported news agency ANI. The airport chief furhter said that the status of the aircraft is yet to be ascertained. 

However, the rescue operation has been called off for today due to snowfall at the possible air crash site, said Premnath Thakur, General Manager, TIA. "Due to the snowfall at the possible air crash site, the search and rescue operation has been called off for today. All the helicopters deployed for search and rescue have been called back to bases," Thakur said, reported the news agency.  

With 22 passengers and the crew on board, Tara Air's 9 NAET twin-engine aircraft flying from Pokhara to Jomsom at 9:55 am on Sunday, lost contact with the authorities, the news agency had reported. Out of 22 passengers, 4 were Indian while 3 were Japanese nationals while the rest were Nepal citizens. 

As per the information given by locals to the Nepal Army, the Tara Air plane crashed at the mouth of the Lamche river under the landslide of Manapathi Himal. Army spokesperson Narayan Silwal said that the Nepal Army was moving towards the site from the ground and air route, reported the news agency. 

#UPDATE | Aircraft found at Kowang of Mustang. The status of the aircraft is yet to be ascertained: Tribhuvan International Airport chief

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2022

"The aircraft was seen over the sky of Jomsom in Mustang district and then had diverted to Mount Dhaulagiri after which it hadn't come into contact," chief district officer Netra Prasad Sharma told ANI.

“The Nepal home ministry has deployed two private helicopters from Mustang and Pokhara for the search for the missing aircraft. The Nepal Army chopper is also being prepared to be deployed for the search operation,” an ANI report quoted spokesperson of the home ministry Phadindra Mani Pokharel as saying.

As reported by Kathmandu Post, an air traffic controller at Jomsom Airport said they have received an unconfirmed report about loud noise in Ghasa of Jomson. Tara Air spokesperson Sudarshan Bartaula confirmed that the plane has gone missing and a search operation has been initiated.

 

Nepalese Home Ministry has deployed two private helicopters from Mustang and Pokhara for the search for missing aircraft.

Nepali Army spokesperson Narayan Silwal said, "A Nepali Army Mi-17 helicopter has recently left for Lete, Mustang, which is the suspected crashed region of the missing Tara Air aircraft (with 22 onboard)."