Nepal Runway Scare: Buddha Air Plane Overshoots Bhadrapur Airstrip With 51 Passengers Aboard

A major aviation scare was narrowly averted in Nepal after a domestic passenger aircraft overshot the runway while landing at Bhadrapur Airport on Friday night. The Buddha Air flight, carrying 51 passengers and crew, ran beyond the airstrip by approximately 200 metres before coming to a halt near a rivulet, officials confirmed.

The aircraft was operating a scheduled service from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur when the incident occurred around 9 pm. Despite the tense situation, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

Airport authorities said emergency response teams were immediately deployed after the aircraft veered off the runway. Fire and rescue units secured the site, while passengers were escorted away from the aircraft as a precautionary measure.

Preliminary information suggests that the aircraft involved was an ATR 72-500 turboprop, a commonly used regional passenger plane in Nepal’s domestic aviation network. The plane reportedly sustained minor damage during the overrun, though officials emphasised that there was no fire, fuel leak, or structural collapse.

According to airport officials, the aircraft failed to stop within the designated landing distance and continued beyond the paved surface before stopping on soft ground near a small water channel adjacent to the runway. The exact cause of the overshoot has not yet been officially determined.

Authorities have launched a technical assessment to examine whether weather conditions, runway surface factors, braking performance, or operational issues contributed to the incident. Weather conditions at the time were reported to be stable, though visibility and runway friction will be reviewed as part of the inquiry.

Operations at Bhadrapur Airport were temporarily disrupted following the incident as safety inspections were carried out. Officials said flights may resume only after the runway and surrounding area are declared fully operational and the aircraft is cleared or removed.

Buddha Air, one of Nepal’s leading domestic airlines, stated that passenger safety remains its top priority and that it is fully cooperating with aviation authorities during the investigation. The airline added that arrangements were made to assist affected passengers and ensure minimal inconvenience.

Nepal’s aviation sector has long faced scrutiny due to its challenging terrain, short runways, and unpredictable weather conditions, particularly at regional airports. Incidents involving runway excursions and hard landings have previously raised concerns about infrastructure limitations and operational margins in the country’s domestic aviation system.

While this incident did not result in casualties, aviation experts note that runway overruns remain among the most common landing-related risks worldwide, especially at airports with limited overrun areas or constrained geography.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal is expected to conduct a detailed review of the incident, including flight data analysis and crew reports, before issuing further findings.

For now, officials have confirmed that all passengers are safe and that there is no immediate threat to airport operations beyond routine safety checks.