Small plane with 21 people on board missing in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Nepal – An airport official says a small plane with 21 people on board has gone missing while flying in a mountainous area in Nepal.

Official Yogendra Kuwar said the plane was on an 18-minute flight Wednesday, but lost contact after takeoff. He said there were no landing strips between the two airports the plane was flying between.

The plane had taken off from Pokhara, a resort town west of Kathmandu, and was heading north to Jomsom, which is the starting point for trekkers going into mountainous areas.

The Twin Otter aircraft was operated by Tara airlines in Nepal.