On Jan 2nd 2026, a nighttime arrival in eastern Nepal ended in a dramatic runway overrun when a Buddha Air Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A failed to stop within the confines of the airfield. The aircraft, registered 9N-AMF, was operating flight U4-901 from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur with 51 people on board.
The turboprop touched down on Bhadrapur’s runway 28 at 21:06 local time (15:21 UTC). During the landing roll, however, the aircraft was unable to decelerate sufficiently and continued past the end of the runway. It overran the paved surface, crossed a creek beyond the runway boundary, and came to rest well beyond the airport perimeter, approximately 170 meters, later уточ? Wait ensure consistency. Use official CAAN later says 183 meters. Clarify discrepancy.
The overrun resulted in minor injuries to occupants and substantial damage to the aircraft. Emergency response reached the scene, and passengers were assisted after the aircraft came to a stop in the area beyond the runway end.
On Jan 16th 2026, Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) confirmed that the occurrence was classified as an accident. The authority reported minor injuries and stated that the aircraft ultimately stopped 183 meters past the end of runway 28, reflecting a refined measurement as part of the ongoing assessment. The aircraft was confirmed to have sustained substantial damage.
No weather data have been released for Bhadrapur at the time of the landing, leaving investigators to focus on operational, runway, and aircraft performance factors. The accident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges associated with night operations and runway performance margins, particularly at regional airports where overrun areas can be unforgiving.
