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Germany sends plane to rescue stranded tourists from Nepal

The Associated Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 1 month AGO

A stranded German tourist sits inside a bus taking her to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shres…

Stranded German tourists wait for a bus to take them to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shresth…

Stranded German wave to journalists as they prepare to move to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan …

Stranded German tourists wait for a bus to take them to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shresth…

Stranded German tourists get ready to go to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A stranded German tourist arrives to catch a bus to travel to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan S…

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by The Associated Press
| March 27, 2020 2:50 AM

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Stranded German tourists wait for a bus to take them to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

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Stranded German wave to journalists as they prepare to move to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

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Stranded German tourists wait for a bus to take them to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

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Stranded German tourists get ready to go to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

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A stranded German tourist arrives to catch a bus to travel to the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 27, 2020. A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said. The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal. Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A rescue flight arranged by the German government on Friday picked up hundreds of tourists who had been stranded in Nepal since the Himalayan nation went on lockdown earlier this week, officials said.

The Qatar Airways charter flight took off with 305 people on board, said Deo Chandra Lal Karna, an official at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport.

Immigration official Sagar Acharya said most of the passengers were German nationals or had some connection to the country.

The airport reopened only for the flight, which did not bring any passengers to Nepal.

Nepal, home to the highest mountains and hiking trails, is popular with tourists during the spring season when the weather is favorable for climbing.

Up to 10,000 tourists are believed to be stranded in Nepal since the government ordered a complete lockdown that halted all flights and road travel to prevent the spread of the virus. Businesses and government offices were also shut.

Nepal has only three confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including one who has recovered.

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