Tara Air Twin Otter missing in Nepal

A turboprop aircraft carrying 23 people and operated by Nepalese carrier Tara Air has failed to arrive in the town of Jomsom after departing Pokhara.

A company spokesperson confirms that the aircraft is missing, with 20 passengers and three crew aboard for the 20-minute flight.

She was unable to specify the aircraft registration, but said the aircraft was a Twin Otter.

Flightglobal’s Fleets Analyzer shows that Tara Air operates seven turboprops. Of these, three are Bombardier (de Havilland) DHC-6-300s, and two are Viking Air DHC-6-400s. The other two aircraft in its fleet are two Dornier 228s.

Jomsom is a popular starting point for treks in the mountainous country.

In May 2013 a Twin Otter operated by Nepal Airlines crashed into a river while operating the same route, resulting in several injuries.