Two pilots have been killed in Nepal after a Makalu Air single-engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan cargo aircraft crashed, according to local media sources.
The Himalayan Times and The Kathmandu Post both report today that the cargo aircraft, which had gone missing since this morning, has been found wrecked in the hilly region of Kharpunath Rural Municipality in Humla district.
The publications said that two helicopters of Mountain Air in cooperation with security personnel, were mobilised in the search operation.
The aircraft was reportedly carrying a payload of cargo and was discovered wrecked and fragmented into three parts in Ekalbajkharka at around 11.00h local time.
The aircraft had taken off from Surkhet Airport at 06:15h today and was scheduled to land at Simikot Airport at 6:55 am. The aircraft reportedly had a forced emergency landing after it was hit with technical issues.
Makalu Air has three single-engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft in its fleet and is based in Nepalgunj, and operates chartered passenger and cargo services.
