An aircraft of the US-Bangla Airlines from Dhaka to Kathmandu crash landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) here on Monday, officials said.
TIA spokesperson Prem Nath Thakur said the flight BS 211 careened off the runway during landing and crashed onto a football ground near the airport, catching fire. The airport was shutdown for the time being following the accident.
According to TV reports, 17 people were rescued and taken to the hospital.
The aircraft crashed after crossing the threshold runway 02 of the Kathmandu airport, following touchdown. TV visuals show the debris of the aircraft and rescue operations are underway.
BREAKING: Passenger jet crashes during landing at Kathmandu airport. We're told there were 67 people aboard the flight. pic.twitter.com/0w15WUqe86
— Joe Kelley (@talkradiojoe) March 12, 2018
UPDATE: Flight operations at #Kathmandu airport suspended after a passenger aircraft crashes; 67 passengers were on-board pic.twitter.com/kxpfGmvMzO
— AMAR JORWAL (@JorwalAmar) March 12, 2018
Initial reports also said that the plane became unstable while making its descent. The flight landed at 14:20 local time.
Emergency officials were alarmed when eyewitnesses noticed a lot of smoke emanataing from the aircraft.
Flight #BS211 of US Bangla Airlines, carrying up to 78 people, catches fire after crash landing at #Kathmandu Airport; pic.twitter.com/1x70nSeabc
— Somrat Mahmud (@SomratOfficial) March 12, 2018
No deaths have been reported so far.
Photos from the #TIA #Kathmandu #Nepal #USBangla (Pic- @IsarojB ) pic.twitter.com/FAoWCxIttq
— Narayan Amrit (@amritna) March 12, 2018
(This is a developing story.)