Buddha Air ATR 72 Overshoot at Bhadrapur Injures Seven, Investigation Underway

January 3, 2026 at 05:19 AM•2 min read

Buddha Air ATR 72 aircraft overran the runway at Bhadrapur Airport, injuring seven people including a co-pilot, prompting an immediate safety investigation.

Key Points

1Seven people, including the co-pilot, were reported injured after a Buddha Air ATR 72 overran the runway at Bhadrapur Airport on Friday night.
2The aircraft overshot the runway by approximately 300 meters, coming to rest in a grassy area off the end of the asphalt.
3Bhadrapur Airport's runway was temporarily shortened from 1,500m to 1,400m as a safety measure to allow continued operations.
4The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is investigating the cause, with airport officials ruling out adverse weather conditions.

A Buddha Air ATR 72 aircraft overran the runway. This Buddha Air runway overrun occurred late Friday night. It happened while landing at Bhadrapur Airport. Local reports indicate seven people were injured. This group included the flight's co-pilot. The turboprop aircraft was operating as Flight U4-901. It arrived from Kathmandu, Nepal's capital. The ATR 72 landing incident has prompted a safety investigation.

Incident Details and Immediate Response

The aircraft went off the runway around 9:10 pm local time. It overshot the end of the asphalt surface. The plane came to rest in a grassy area beyond the runway. The jet overran the runway by about 300 meters. There were 51 passengers and four crew on board. An engineer was also reportedly on the flight. Authorities activated emergency protocols immediately. Conflicting reports exist on the injury count. Some sources stated all occupants were safe. However, local police confirmed seven injuries.

The aircraft overran the runway causing operational changes. Bhadrapur Airport's runway was temporarily shortened. Airport Chief Kishor Kumar Khatri confirmed the change. The runway length was reduced from 1,500 meters. It is now operating at 1,400 meters. This measure was taken for safety reasons. The damaged aircraft's rear section remained off track. Officials confirmed the shortened runway is sufficient. It can safely handle ATR aircraft operations.

Investigation and Safety Context

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is investigating. They have dispatched a technical team to the scene. The exact cause of the Bhadrapur Airport accident is not yet known. Airport officials quickly ruled out adverse weather conditions. The weather was clear at the time of the landing. The focus of the probe is now on technical issues. Commercial aviation safety relies on thorough investigations.

Nepal’s aviation sector faces intense international scrutiny. All Nepali carriers, including Buddha Air, are currently banned. They are prohibited from operating in European Union airspace. The ban is due to persistent safety concerns. The Nepal aviation safety record is under constant review. This latest regional turboprop operations incident adds pressure. The investigation will examine pilot training and maintenance records. It will also review the aircraft's performance. The goal is to identify all contributing factors. This aligns with global standards set by the ICAO. Further updates will be provided on this developing story in commercial aviation news.