JHAPA: At least seven people, including a co-pilot, were injured after a Buddha Air ATR 72 aircraft overran the runway while landing at Bhadrapur Airport on Friday night.
According to preliminary information provided by Jhapa District Police Office, the aircraft (flight call sign U4-901) overshot the runway by around 300 meters on the eastern side while landing at 9:10 pm.
The flight had departed from Kathmandu at 8:23 pm with 51 passengers, four crew members and one aircraft engineer on board.
Among the injured is 24-year-old co-pilot Sushant Shrestha of Lalitpur-4, who sustained head and facial injuries. The other injured passengers have been identified as Sabin Jogi (40) of Bhadrapur-10, Presika Adhikari (20) of Birtamod-7, Sumitra Jogi (42) of Birtamod-1, Kamal Prasad Kutuwal (28) of Damak-1, and Muna Ghatani (40) and Priya Ghatani (16) of Kathmandu-16, police said.
All injured were immediately rescued and taken to Omsai Pathibhara Hospital in Bhadrapur by a Nepal Police rescue team. Police said the co-pilot is currently undergoing treatment, while the remaining six passengers were discharged after receiving minor medical care.
Following the incident, a 70-member police team led by Superintendent of Police Rajan Limbu was mobilized for rescue operations. All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft.
Police said further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the runway overrun.
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