Security forces have been mobilised to track down the pilot and two passengers allegedly kidnapped by Maoist rebels after they set ablaze the Karnali Air helicopter at Jubu of Solukhumbu district Thursday.

“We have made the necessary arrangements to launch a search operation for the missing pilot and

the two passengers but the job has not been completed yet,” an official at the Rescue Coordination

Center (RCC) said.

The 9NAED (AS350) helicopter left Kathmandu airport at 9:48 a.m. for Jubu in Solukhumbu district with pilot Arun Malla and four passengers on a chartered flight. Before it could return with the husband of a woman who had died in the capital, the Maoists set ablaze the chopper after forcing the passengers out.

According to RCC the Maoists are suspected to have kidnapped pilot Arun Malla and passenger Indra Bahadur Gurung who have gone missing after the incident.

The other three passengers- Suresh Bahadur Gurung, Krishna Kumari Gurung and Purna Bahadur

Bhujel are reported to be safe.