A helicopter has been attacked by Maoist rebels after it landed in a remote mountain village in Nepal, airport officials say.

The rebels abducted the pilot and one passenger before setting fire to the aircraft.

Three other Nepalese passengers were left unharmed at the helipad in Jubu, nearly 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu.

Maoist violence poses a serious threat

The French-built Equirel helicopter, belonging to Karnali Air, was on a chartered flight to Jubu from the capital when it was reported missing earlier on Thursday.

Reports in the Nepalese media say the three passengers not abducted have been able to contact their families to let them know they are safe.

Set alight

Some 50 armed rebels are reported to have attacked the aircraft when it landed in Jubu, dragging the four passengers and pilot out before setting it on fire.

Karnali Air has said they have no information about the pilot, identified as Arun Malla, or the kidnapped passenger, identified as Indra Gurung. Both are Nepalese.

The rebels have targeted helicopters carrying policemen and soldiers in the past, but attacks on civilian flights are extremely rare, if not unheard of.

Observers say the incident is likely to further harm Nepal's increasingly beleaguered tourism industry.

Talks offer

More than 4,000 people have lost their lives during the six years of Maoist insurgency in Nepal.

Last week a key rebel leader made a fresh offer of peace talks with the government.

Comrade Prachanda's move followed attacks in which over 100 security personnel were killed.

But the government wants the rebels to apologise for walking out of failed peace talks last year.

The ruling Nepali Congress party is, meanwhile, embroiled in bitter infighting over Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's call for snap electioins due in November.

The government has proposed holding the elections in at least five phases for security reasons.

But analysts say the continuing Maoist violence poses a serious threat to free and fair polls in the country.