A plane of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) skidded off the runway as it was landing at the Nepalgunj airport today. The Y12 aircraft had left from the capital Kathmandu to collect swab samples of people suspected of carrying the Coronavirus.

It may be noted that tests for COVID-19 is so far available only in Kathmandu. Hence, samples are being collected from various parts of the country by air as the country remains in a lockdown since the past five days.

The aircraft skidded some 60 meters off the runaway on the southern side of the airport, according to Chief of the Nepalgunj Civil Aviation Office, Prem Narayan Thakur. The plane was carry five passengers including two crew members. No one was hurt in the incident.

The reason behind the accident is not yet known as another aircraft of NAC is arriving along with engineers to assess the incident, said Thakur.