PremiumNepal's Yeti airline on Sunday crashed in Pokhara. As per the latest report, 40 people have been killed. There were 72 passengers on the aircraft, including four Indians. According to Nepal civil aviation authority, the weather was clear when the accident happened, and rescue operation is on. Livemint will provide you with all the latest updates on Nepal plane crash
According to Tek Bahadur KC, Chief District Officer of the Kaski district, the plane crashed into the Seti river gorge.
The Seti river flows in western Nepal. It is a left tributary of the Trishuli River. It gorges around Pokhara-a major tourist attraction
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Yeti Airlines' 9N-ANC ATR-72 aircraft took off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:33 am. Pokhara is a major tourist destination in the Himalayan nation.
While landing at the Pokhara airport, the aircraft crashed on the bank of the Seti River between the old airport and the new airport. There were a total of 68 passengers and four crew members.
At least 32 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage site, The Himalayan Times newspaper reported.
Nepal's Yeti Airlines had 14 foreign nationals onboard--5 Indian, 4 Russian, One Irish, 2 Koreans, 1 Argentinian and a French national. Whereas, there were 53 Nepalis onboard.
Nepal's Army spokesperson told ANI news agency that 16 bodies have been recovered so far.
Pokhara is located 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Kathmandu. The 72-seater aircraft crashed on the runway at Pokhara airport in Nepal.
It is the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, a popular hiking trail in the Himalayas.
Last year, 22 people died when a plane crashed on a mountainside in Nepal. In 2018, a US-Bangla passenger plane from Bangladesh crashed on landing in Kathmandu, killing 49 of the 71 people aboard.
In a video circulated on internet showed flames on the ground and black smoke billowing into the sky, apparently from wreckage strewn across the crash site.
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called an emergency cabinet meeting after the plane crash.
“I am deeply saddened by the sad and tragic accident of Yeti Airlines ANC ATR 72 which was flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara with passengers. I sincerely appeal to the security personnel, all agencies of the Nepal government and the general public to start an effective rescue," Nepal Prime Minister wrote.
Download the App to get 14 days of unlimited access to Mint Premium absolutely free!