By Govinda Sharma, Nepalgunj, Mar. 28: Dr. Prabesh Panta of Nepalgunj Medical College, Kohalpur, has said that the pilot had landed the plane in grassland, instead of runway after sensing some technical glitches and turbulence in the aircraft.

A Twin Otter aircraft of Nepal Airlines Corporation, with doctors on board, had skidded 80 meters off the runway at Nepalgunj Airport today afternoon.

Dr. Panta, who was in the aircraft said, "We had sensed some technical glitches after the airplane reached Dang district area. Probably, one of the engines had stopped working."

Panta said that the plane was landed in grassland due to the technical problems the aircraft was facing.

Premnath Thakur, Chief of Civil Aviation office, Nepalgunj said, "From the nature of the accident, it is established that the airplane was way lower than the usual height it is supposed to be in. The plane had not touched the runway when it skidded off."

Further investigation regarding the accident will be done, he added.

Thakur said that the plane landed in Nepalgunj with doctors and medicines to collect samples of suspected COVID-19 patient for the virus test.

9N-AKU Twin Otter of Nepal Airlines had taken off from Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) at 11:35 AM on Saturday.

"Two doctors and five other people on board have been rescued successfully," said Bir Bahadur Oli, Superintendent of Police and Chief of District Police Office, Banke.  

SP Oli said that a big accident was prevented as the aircraft didn’t catch fire after the accident.

Along with Dr. Panta, Dr. Sandesh Devkota of Bheri Hospital was also on board in the aircraft.