KATHMANDU: Seven people, including a co-pilot, were injured after a Buddha Air ATR-72 aircraft overshot the runway while landing at Bhadrapur Airport in Jhapa on Friday night, prompting a technical investigation by aviation authorities.

The aircraft, operating Kathmandu–Bhadrapur flight U4 901, overran the eastern end of the runway by approximately 300 metres at around 9:10 pm, before coming to rest in grassy and muddy terrain. The flight had departed Kathmandu at 8:23 pm.

There were 51 passengers, four crew members, and one aircraft engineer on board at the time of the incident. Co-pilot Sushant Shrestha, 24, of Lalitpur-4, sustained head and facial injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at Omsai Pathibhara Hospital in Bhadrapur. Six other passengers suffered minor injuries and were discharged after receiving first aid, according to police.

Following the incident, a rescue team of around 70 personnel from the Nepal Police and other security agencies was immediately mobilised. All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft, and the injured were promptly transported to the hospital, said Superintendent of Police Rajan Limbu.

Photo Courtesy: Nepal Police

In a statement issued on Saturday, Buddha Air said it is taking the incident seriously and expressed gratitude to the Nepal Police, Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), and airline staff for their swift rescue and response. The airline confirmed that all injured passengers have returned home after treatment and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.

As part of the follow-up, a high-level technical team led by CAAN Director General Deo Chandra Lal Karn arrived at Bhadrapur Airport on Saturday morning, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Buddha Air engineers, along with required technical equipment. The team is conducting a detailed assessment to determine the cause of the runway overrun.

Bhadrapur Airport is a key domestic gateway in eastern Nepal, serving both passenger movement and tourism flows.