Both pilots died when a Makalu Air cargo aircraft crashed at Simikot Pass in Bahun Kharka, Humla, on Wednesday.

Depty Director General at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan) Rajan Pokharel said both pilot Kiran Bhattarai and co-pilot Aditya Nepali died in the crash that occurred at an altitude of 12,800 feet.

The single-engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan with call sign 9N-AJU had flown to Humla headquarters Simikot from Surkhet. The plane had taken off from Surkhet to Humla district headquarters Simikot. It took off from Surkhet Airport at 6:12 am Wednesday morning and was scheduled to land at 6:55 am in Simikot.

Makalu Air has three single-engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircrafts to its fleet. Based in Nepalgunj, Makalu Air provides chartered passenger and cargo services.