Kathmandu: A Buddha Air passenger plane skidded off the runway while landing at an airport in eastern Nepal late Thursday, authorities said. All 55 people on board escaped without injury.

The ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft, arriving from the capital city of Kathmandu, overshot the runway at Bhadrapur Airport at approximately 9:08 p.m. local time. The plane travelled roughly 200 meters (650 feet) beyond the paved surface before coming to a stop in a grassy area near a small stream.

The airline confirmed that the flight, designated as 9N-AMF, was carrying 51 passengers and four crew members.

“All passengers and crew members are safe,” Buddha Air said in a statement posted to social media. The airline added that a technical relief team was being dispatched from Kathmandu to inspect the aircraft.

Shivaram Gelal, the Chief District Officer of Jhapa, confirmed there were no reported injuries. Emergency protocols were activated immediately following the incident, and the aircraft sustained only minor damage.

The flight was piloted by Sailesh Limbu. Following the excursion, airport operations were briefly impacted as safety officials conducted an initial assessment of the site.

Nepal’s aviation industry has faced heightened scrutiny following several high-profile accidents. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines flight crashed in Pokhara, killing all 72 people on board. More recently, in July 2024, a Saurya Airlines plane crashed during takeoff in Kathmandu, resulting in 18 fatalities.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of Thursday’s runway excursion. An investigation is expected to follow.