Tara Air

History

Tara Air was formed in 2009 when Yeti Airlines split its STOL aircraft operations from its regional operations. The airline's STOL operations were rebranded as Tara Air and focused on providing services into remote and mountainous airports and airstrips.

Destinations

The airline operates scheduled domestic flights to a number of destinations as well as offering air charter services. Tara Air operates daily scheduled flights between Kathmandu and Lukla, and between Jomsom and Pokhara. Other destinations are served at varying frequency.

Codeshare agreements

Tara Air has a codeshare agreement with its parent company Yeti Airlines.

Fleet

, Tara Air operates the following aircraft:

Accidents and incidents

Tara Air has been considered one of the "most unsafe airlines" due to several significant incidents.

• On 26 May 2010, a DHC-6 Twin Otter took off from Birendranagar Airport in Surkhet heading for Talcha Airport in Rara with 18 passengers and 3 crew on board. At 10 am the aircraft had to make an emergency landing at Birendranagar Airport after its cabin door suddenly opened five minutes after take-off. Tara Air officials said that the cabin attendant managed to lock the door immediately after it opened to avert any possible mishaps.

• On 15 December 2010, a DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed shortly after takeoff from Lamidanda Airport in Nepal; it was en route to Kathmandu. All 19 passengers and 3 flight crew were killed.

• On 23 June 2011, a Tara Air Dornier 228 was substantially damaged in a heavy landing and runway excursion at Simikot Airport, Nepal. The aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Nepalgunj Airport.

• On 21 September 2012, a DHC-6 Twin Otter en route from Dolpa to Nepalgunj was damaged during takeoff when the pilot lost directional control. No one was hurt in the incident.

• On 24 February 2016, Tara Air Flight 193 went missing shortly after take off whilst traveling to Pokhara-Jomsom. It was later found that the aircraft crashed into the mountainous northern region killing 23 people including 2 babies and 3 crew members.

• On 22 April 2019, a Tara Air Dornier 228 aircraft skidded off the runway upon landing at Ramechhap Airport. Due to adverse weather, the flight from Tribhuvan International Airport to Lukla Airport was diverted to Ramechhap Airport. All of the crew and passengers evacuated the aircraft safely.

• On 1 December 2021, a Tara Air DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft had a tyre burst upon landing at Bajura Airport. While no one was injured, a video of passengers pushing the aircraft off the runway, as there was no suitable vehicle at the airport, went viral.

• On 29 May 2022, Tara Air Flight 197 lost contact with ATC 12 minutes after takeoff from Pokhara Airport. The wreckage was found 20 hours later on the side of a mountain in Sanosware, Mustang District; none of the 22 on board survived.

Notes

References

References

1. "Airline Code Search Result". Av Codes.
2. "Profile on Tara Air | CAPA". Centre for Aviation.
3. "About Us". Tara Air.
4. "The EU Air Safety List - European Commission".
5. "About Us". Tara Air.
6. "[http://www.taraair.com/uploads/publications/files/Pilatus%20Porter_brochure20100115022804.pdf Explore Nepal] {{webarchive. link. (2011-10-30 ." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20111030162744/http://www.taraair.com/uploads/publications/files/Pilatus%20Porter_brochure20100115022804.pdf Archive]) Tara Air. Retrieved on 29 December 2011. "Tara Air Pvt. Ltd. Tilganga, Kathmandu, GPO Box 20011")
7. "Flight Schedule". Tara Air.
8. "Route Map". Tara Air.
9. (April 2019). "Domestic airline companies issue travel alert for passengers". The Himalayan Times.
10. "Lukla Tenzing Hillary Airport". FlightRadar24.
11. (September 2025). "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Tara Air".
12. Asquith, James. "The 2019 List Of The Most Dangerous Airlines In The World".
13. [http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/6341-tara-airlines-aircraft-makes-emergency-landing-after-midair-technical-problem.html Nepalnews.com]{{Dead link. (June 2018)
14. [http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20101215-0 Aviation Safety Network]
15. (2010-12-16). "All passengers killed in Nepal plane crash". BBC News.
16. Hradecky, Simon. "Accident: Tara D228 at Simikot on Jun 23rd 2011, hard landing results in runway excursion and gear collapse". Aviation Herald.
17. "Accident description".
18. (24 February 2016). "Plane crashes in Nepal midway through 19-minute flight; 23 feared dead".
19. (22 April 2019). "Tara Air's Plane Slipped Off At Ramechhap Airport". Spotlight Nepal.
20. (7 December 2021). "Passengers forced to push plane down runway after tire ruptures". New York Post.
21. (29 May 2022). "Twin Otter in Nepal im Himalaya abgestürzt".