Army finds missing Nepalese plane in Mustang region

The twin-engine aircraft had 22 passengers, including four Indians

By ANI

Published: Sun 29 May 2022, 3:44 PM

Tara Air’s 9 NAET twin-engine aircraft, which went missing in the mountainous district of Mustang on Sunday morning, was found at Kowang village of the district, Nepal Airport official said.

“Status is yet to be ascertained. The ground is accessing the situation,” Tribhuwan International Airport chief confirmed.

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According to the information given by the 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.

On Sunday morning, Tara Air’s 9 NAET twin-engine aircraft carrying 22 passengers, including four Indians and three Japanese nationals, flying from Pokhara to Jomsom at 9.55am, had lost contact after reaching the Lete area of Mustang, said airport authorities.

“The aircraft was seen over the sky of Jomsom in Mustang and then had diverted to Mt. Dhaulagiri after which it hadn’t come into contact,” Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma confirmed ANI over the phone.

As per the police officials, the aircraft has been suspected to have crashed in the Titi area of Lete in Mustang District.

”Locals from Titi have called and informed us that they have heard an unusual sound as if there was some bang. We are deploying a helicopter to the area for the search operation,” Ram Kumar Dani, DSP of District Police Office, Mustang told ANI.

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The Home Ministry has deployed two private helicopters from Mustang and Pokhara for the search for missing aircraft. A Nepal Army chopper is also being prepared to be deployed for the search, said Phadindra Mani Pokharel, spokesperson at Home Ministry told ANI over the phone.

Mustang (from the Tibetan Muntan meaning “fertile plain”) is largely dry and arid. The world’s deepest gorge that goes down three miles vertical between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountains runs through this district.