Pilot, co-pilot killed in Humla plane crash

KATHMANDU,  May 16: Both the pilot and the co-pilot were were killed when a cargo plane of Makalu Air crashed at Simikot Pass in Bahun Kharka, Humla, this morning, according to chief of District Police Chief, Rabin Shrestha.

Rajan Pokharel, Deputy Director General at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal confirmed that both pilot Kiran Bhattarai and co-pilot Aditya Nepali died in the plane crash.

The airplane with a call sign 9N-AUJ, which had gone missing since 6:45 am today morning, had departed from Surkhet at 6:12 AM to Simikot of Humla. But, the plane lost the contact minutes before its arrival and crashed at east-western part of Dhulachaur of Bajura, according to reports. It was scheduled to land at 6:55 am in Simkot.

The dead bodies have been taken to Surkhet via helicopter.