Nepal plane loses contact, 4 Indians among 22 passengers go missing

New Delhi: A Tara Air’s 9 NAET twin-engine aircraft carrying 22 passengers including four Indians and three Japanese nationals lost contact with the airport authorities on Sunday morning.

Reportedly, the plane was flying from Pokhara to Jomsom in Nepal. The plane lost contact at 9:55 am. The remaining were citizens of Nepal.

“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 ANI.

Meanwhile the District Police Office, Mustang Ram Kumar Dani has informed that helicopters have been deployed to the area for the search operation.

Home Ministry has deployed two private helicopters from Mustang and Pokhara for the search for missing aircraft. Nepal Army chopper is also being prepared to be deployed for the search.

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

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2022

As per a report by NDTV, the aircraft has been suspected to have crashed in the “Titi” area of Lete in the mountainous Mustang district, which is the fifth-largest district of the Himalayan nation and hosts the pilgrimage of Muktinath Temple.

Till the last reports came in, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu issued an emergency hotline number, +977-9851107021. The embassy also mentioned that it is in touch with the family members of the four Indian passengers in the flight.