Investigations are ongoing to retrieve and the latest victim of the Yeti Airlines plane crash with 72 on board (68 passengers, among them six children and 15 foreigners) on Sunday 15/1, the worst air tragedy in the Asian country since 1992.
Crews using UAVs and ropes continue the grim search in the wreckage of the twin-engine turboprop ATR 72, which was flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara when it crashed on Sunday morning.
“There is absolutely no chance of finding any survivors. We have collected 71 bodies so far. The investigation into the latter is ongoing,” summarized a local official in Pokhara.
The ATR 72 touched down shortly before 11:00 (local time_07:15 Greek time) on Sunday a short distance from the airport in Pokhara, Nepal’s second largest city, a pilgrim center and a hub for foreign trekkers and climbers.
Why is not clear. Video uploaded to social media sites shows the aircraft bank sharply to the left as it approaches the airport for landing. A powerful explosion follows.
Civil aviation in Nepal, which primarily supplies remote areas and transports trekkers and mountaineers, has grown rapidly in recent years.
350 dead after 2000
But poor aircraft maintenance and lax enforcement of safety regulations, despite strict international recommendations, continue to weigh on the sector. The European Union has banned all Nepalese airlines from entering its airspace.
Since 2000, nearly 350 people have been killed in airplane and helicopter crashes in Nepal. The Asian country is home to eight of the highest mountains on the planet, including Mount Everest, and sudden changes in weather often create dangerous conditions. Besides, many of the country’s airports are a challenge even for the most experienced pilots due to the terrain.
In September 1992, all 167 people on board a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 died when the aircraft crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport. It is the deadliest air crash in Nepal’s history.
Source: News Beast
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
