A Sita Air Dornier aircraft has been involved in runway excursion at Tenzing Hillary Airport in Mt Everest region during take-off on Thursday morning. All nine passengers of the aircraft, however, are said to be safe, a source at Lukla airport said.

According to a senior official at the airlines, the aircraft was involved in runway excursion making a left alignment from the central line of the runway at Lukla airport when the plane piloted by senior captain DK Shah was preparing to take off for Kathmandu at around 7:30 am.

The Himalayan Times reports that it could be an issue of differential power, Lukla airport official quoted the captain as saying. The Himalayan Times quoting source said that technicians have been sent from Kathmandu for the needful maintenance. “All passengers and crew members aboard the plane are safe.”