A private airlines company’s Twin Otter aircraft, carrying 23 persons, including 3 crew members, have gone missing in Nepal, just a while.
 
The Tara Airlines aircraft went missing at 8:10 am, nearly 15 minutes after taking off from Pokhara airport, nearly 200 kms north-west from Kathmandu, to Jomsom in Mustang district, bordering China.

Speaking on the issue, an official from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said, “The pilots had last contacted Pokhara airport at 8:10 am, after that we haven’t heard anything from them”.

Currently, a search operation has been launched with two helicopters to trace the missing aircraft, which is even carrying the two foreigners as well. By air, from Pokhara, it takes 20 minutes to reach Jomsom.  
 
On the other hand, the local reports showed that, the Rupse, Myagadi district, villagers say they have heard loud noises, making the officials speculate that the aircraft might have crashed.
 
Moreover, only the small aircrafts would be operating in the Pokhara-Jomsom region, as it would be a difficult, for flying the big ones.

If earlier aircraft incidents in Nepal are considered, 15 persons, including 13 Indians were killed in 2012, when their Dorneir aircraft on way from Pokhara to Jomsom crashed into a hill, near the Jomsom airport.

Again in May 2013, seven people, including two Japanese tourists were severely injured,  when a twin otter aircraft crashed near Jomsom airport.

By Phani Ch