Nepal Plane crash: no survivors reported
On Sunday, January 15 2023, a YETI airplane crashed in aa river gorge while landing and burst into flames. The airplane has 72 passengers including foreigners; five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and one each from Ireland, Australia, Argentina and France. on board as it was reaching the city of Pokhara. The rescue operation began and as per reports, 68 bodies have been found and transferred to the hospital so far. The search for the remaining four in still going on. The Nepali Army spokesperson Krishna Prasad Bhandari reported that, “We haven’t rescued anyone alive from the crash site.”
A statement was issued by the Nepali Civil Aviation Authority regarding the rescue operation, it said, “Nepali Army, Police Force, Airport Rescue, and Fire Fighting and Nepal Police will be informed about the rescue operation. Total number 72 including crew female 25 male 30, standard, white. So far, the death toll is 68.”
The cause of the air crash hasn’t been determined as yet however, this incident is being deemed as the country’s deadliest plane crash in the past 30 years.
The rescue operation was paused in the middle due to poor weather conditions but they will continue until they are able to find the remaining bodies.
Aviation accidents are not uncommon in Nepal and previously European Union has banned a Nepalese airline over issues like lack of trainings and poor maintenance standards.
The Yeti airlines have issued a statement on their twitter handle and ‘cancelled all regular flights for Monday, 16 January and apologized for the inconvenience caused.’
The Nepal government has formed a five-member committee to investigate the accident and an extensive report in expected within 45 days. A public holiday has been also announced to mourn the deaths of passengers and crew. The President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari in a Twitter post, offered her ‘deep condolences to the bereaved families’ of the people of who lost their lives in the crash.
The black box of the crashed air plane has been recovered a day after the horrific incident.