The co-pilot of the fatal plane in Nepal had lost her husband in a plane crash

The co-pilot of the Yeti Airlines flight that crashed Sunday at Nepal she was the widow of a pilot who flew for the same airline and also died in a plane crash 16 years ago. In 2010, Anju Katiwanda joined Yeti Airlines, following in her husband’s footsteps. Deepak Pokrel was also flying for Nepal Airlines but died when a small passenger plane went down minutes before landing.

Katiwanda was co-ruler of the flight from Kathmandu that crashed on approach to the city of Pokhara on Sundaykilling at least 68 people, in the Himalayan country’s deadliest plane crash in three decades.

No survivors have been found so far among the 72 people who were on the fatal plane, as reported by the British Guardian.

“Her husband, Deepak Pokrel, died in a 2006 Yeti Airlines Twin Otter plane crash in Jumla,” airline spokesman Sundarshan Bartaula told Reuters, referring to Katiwanda. “She got her pilot’s training with the money she got from the insurance after her husband died.”

A pilot with more than 6,400 flight hours, Katiwanda had previously flown the popular tourist route from the capital, Kathmandu, to the country’s second-largest city, Pokhara, Bartaula said.

The body of Kamal KC, the captain of the flight, who had more than 21,900 flying hours, was recovered and identified.

Katiwanda has not been identified but is believed to be dead, the airline spokesman said.