Plane skids off Nepal airport runway, catches fire

By Deepak Adhikari

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AA) - A private Bangladeshi airline passenger aircraft has skidded off the runway at the country’s only international airport in capital Kathmandu and is on fire, according to an airport spokesman and local media Monday.

The US-Bangla airlines plane arrived in Kathmandu Monday afternoon from the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, airport spokesman Prem Nath Thakur said.

The incident took place on the eastern edge of the airport after the aircraft overshot the runway.

Smoke could be seen rising from the airport.

Firefighters and ambulances immediately rushed towards the plane to rescue trapped passengers.

Thakur said 14 out of total 70 passengers had been rescued so far.

The Kathmandu Post reported Monday that all flights out of Nepal have been cancelled following the incident.