By Krandan Chapagain, Kathmandu

4 Aug 2016: A single-engine aircraft has crash-landed in Humla district of western Nepal. Both pilot and co-pilot are safe, authorities told media.

Apart from the crew, there were no passengers on board the plane.

The Makalu Air plane, with call sign 9NLD, had to be force-landed because of engine failure only minutes after it took off from Simikot Airport.

According to joint secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Ghanashyam Sharma, pilot Sangey Lama and co-pilot Prashant Shah were the only people on board the plane which was returning to Nepalgunj after having dropped cargo at the Simikot Airport.

Authorities in Humla district told journalists that it took off at 3:45 pm local time only to encounter engine problems minutes later. The pilot attempted to fly the plane back to the airport but could not effect the return. So he managed a forced landing near Karnali River at Rauterani, not far from the Simikot airport.

A helicopter was dispatched by authorities and both the crew members have been rescued. They are receiving treatment for non-life threatening injuries, it is understood.