21 injured in Nepal plane crash on mountain airstrip

A plane crashed while trying to land at a mountain airstrip in northern Nepal early Thursday, injuring all 21 people on board.

Four of the injured are in critical condition, police officer Bhim Bahadur Chand said. No one was killed.

Nine passengers are Japanese tourists, and the three crew members and the other passengers are all Nepali.

The plane belonging to state-owned Nepal Airlines was trying to land at Jomsom airport, some 200 kilometers (125 miles) northwest of Katmandu, when it crashed on the banks of Kaligandaki river.

The injured were rushed to the local hospital, and those with serious injuries are being airlifted to nearby Pokhara town for treatment.

The area is popular with foreign trekkers visiting the Mount Annapurna area and Hindu pilgrims visiting the revered Muktinath temple.

Fifteen people were killed last May when a plane crashed while attempting to land at the same airport.

AP