Thread: Forty people killed in Nepal plane crash

A passenger plane with 72 people on board crashed in Pokhara, a resort town in central Nepal

At least 40 people were killed on Sunday when an aircraft of domestic carrier Yeti Airlines crashed in Pokhara in Nepal, a Nepal aviation authority official said.


"Rescue operations are on," said Jagannath Niroula, spokesman for Nepal civil aviation authority. "Weather was clear."


Local television showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as rescue workers and crowds of people gathered around the wreckage of the aircraft.


There were 72 people on the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft operated by Nepal's Yeti Airlines, including two infants, four crew members and 10 foreign nationals, said airline spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula.


Hundreds of rescue workers were scouring the hillside crash site.


The plane was 15 years old, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.


The ATR72 is a widely used twin engine turboprop plane manufactured by a joint venture of Airbus and Italy's Leonardo. Yeti Airlines has a fleet of six ATR72-500 planes, according to its website.


Air accidents are not uncommon in Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Everest, as the weather can change suddenly and make for hazardous conditions.


Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called an emergency cabinet meeting after the plane crash, a government statement said

Nepal plane crash: At least forty people dead

I've flown into Pokhara...it's hairy.

RIP those folk.

68 people now confirmed dead . . . out of 72. Nasty.

Originally Posted by DrWilly

I've flown into Pokhara...it's hairy.

I traveled there on a bus.

A comfortable three hours or so from Kathmandu, as I remember.

Originally Posted by DrWilly

I've flown into Pokhara...it's hairy.

RIP those folk.

The new airport opened on January 1st. There is some speculation as to whether this was a factor.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

The new airport opened on January 1st. There is some speculation as to whether this was a factor.

Given that the plane crashed before it got to the airport I’m not sure how it would be a factor

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Given that the plane crashed before it got to the airport I’m not sure how it would be a factor

Several factors are responsible as to why flying in Nepal is considered so risky. The mountains, poor regulation, and lack of new planes continue to be one of the prime reasons for the nation's poor aviation record.

The terrain in the region has been regarded as one of the challenging aspects while flying through the Himalayan region. In fact, the Tribhuvan International Airport (Nepal’s first international airport) is located in a narrow valley i.e. 1,338 meters above sea level, due to which planes have a very tight space to turn in.

Then there’s the situation of unpredictable conditions. The weather in the mountains changes very quickly, and a terrible storm is just a thought away. And when you couple this with the lack of proper radar technology in Nepal airports, the situation becomes all the more challenging.


The airport is chinese build, so I guess all radar stuff is up to date and...present

New reports now say that there are no survivors. All on board lost their life.

That was a stall all day long

Originally Posted by Bonecollector

That was a stall all day long

Can't really see any reason to dispute that.

Per PPrune, they are sending the FDR to France for analysis. Hope they took a copy.