Kathmandu: The US Marines chopper that went missing while on Nepal earthquake aid mission, has been reportedly spotted north of capital Kathmandu.
The aircraft was spotted in Tamakoshi region, Interior Ministry spokesman Laxmi Dhakal told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur press agency late Tuesday, Fox News reported.
“But until choppers make landing and get to it, we still can’t say anything about its condition or of its passengers,” the minister added.
The chopper, Marine UH-1Y Huey, with six Marines and two Nepalese Army soldiers aboard was carrying tarps and rice to quake-hit areas in Nepal when its contact was lost yesterday.
However, the US Marines are yet to confirm the news.
Nepalese soldiers along with Joint Task Force 505 personnel have been searching for the lost chopper since yesterday.
JTF 505 personnel & Nepalese forces are searching for the UH-1Y Huey declared missing More: http://t.co/Dqf9wf2l8A https://t.co/YW6yoYiGcs
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) May 12, 2015
The aircraft is part of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469.
There are about 300 US troops in Nepal assisting with the rescue mission, using a variety of aircraft including three Hueys, four Ospreys and several cargo planes.