Rapid Descent Suspected in Buddha Air Runway Incident at Bhadrapur: CAAN

A Buddha Air aircraft that met with an accident at Bhadrapur Airport in Jhapa on Friday night reportedly descended from a higher-than-normal altitude, according to preliminary information from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

The aircraft overshot the runway while landing at around 9:10 pm, injuring seven people, including a member of the flight crew. CAAN spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul said initial findings suggest the aircraft landed from an altitude higher than required, causing it to go beyond the runway.

“The exact reason for the higher-than-normal descent—whether due to instrument issues, visibility problems, or pilot illusion—will be clarified after investigation,” Bhul told New Business Age.

According to Jhapa District Police Office Superintendent Rajan Limbu, the Buddha Air ATR-72 aircraft flying from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur overshot the runway by about 300 metres towards the eastern side during landing and came to rest in a grassland.

The aircraft was carrying 51 passengers, four crew members and one aircraft engineer. Co-pilot Sushant Shrestha, 24, of Lalitpur-4, and six passengers were injured in the incident. Police rescue teams immediately transported the injured to Om Sai Pathibhara Hospital in Bhadrapur for treatment.

Superintendent Limbu said Shrestha, who sustained head and facial injuries, is undergoing treatment, while the other six injured passengers were discharged after receiving medical care.