Incident Summary:

9/19/2002: Maoist rebels attacked a medivac Karnali Air helicopter in Jubu village in Solukhumbu district, Nepal. The helicopter was preparing to bring four patients to Kathmandu for treatment at the time of the attack. Approximately 50 rebels pulled the pilot and four patients from the chopper before lighting it on fire. The assailants abducted the pilot and one patient; they allowed the remaining three patients to go free.

GTD ID:
200209190002

When:
2002-09-19

Country:
Nepal

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Eastern

City:
Jubu

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Airports and Aircraft
Name of Entity A helicopter
Specific Description A medivac Karnali Air helicopter
Nationality of Target Nepal
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilians
Specific Description The helicopter pilot and patients awaiting transport to Kathmandu
Nationality of Target Nepal
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 2
US Hostages 0
Outcome Unknown
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Weapon Details
The assailants set a helicopter on fire
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information The pilot's name is Arun Malla and the patient that was kidnapped is Indra Bahadur
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Maoists No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 50
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Nepal Maoists take two hostage after torching medivac helicopter [Corrected 09/19/02]," Agence France-Presse, September 19, 2002.
Binaj, Gurubacharya, "Maoist rebels torch helicopter, abduct pilot, passenger in Nepal," Associated Press Newswires, September 19, 2002.