Nepal plane crash: Unlikely there are survivors, police say
16-01-2023, 08:45

Font size: [ A+ ] / [ A- ]

Hopes of finding survivors from Nepal's worst air disaster in decades are fading, police say.

"It's unlikely there will be any survivors," spokesperson Tek Prasad Rai told the BBC. Teams were finding body parts at the scene, he added.

At least 68 people died when a flight from Kathmandu to the tourist town of Pokhara crashed and caught fire on Sunday morning.

It is still unclear what caused the crash.

Mobile phone footage showed the Yeti Airlines flight rolling sharply as it approached the airport. There were 72 passengers and crew on board the domestic flight.

A search and rescue operation that involved hundreds of Nepalese soldiers was suspended due to darkness on Sunday. It resumed on Monday morning, with 300 police personnel deployed.

Earlier, local TV reports showed rescuers scrambling around charred sections of the aircraft which hit the ground in the gorge of the Seti River, just over a kilometre from the airport.

The prime minister of Nepal declared Monday a national day of mourning, and the government set up a panel to investigate the cause of the disaster.

Local resident Divya Dhakal told the BBC how she rushed to the crash site after seeing the aircraft plunge from the sky shortly after 11:00am local time (05:15 GMT).

"By the time I was there the crash site was already crowded. There was huge smoke coming from the flames of the plane. And then helicopters came over in no time," she said.

"The pilot tried his best to not hit civilisation or any home," she added. "There was a small space right beside the Seti River and the flight hit the ground in that small space."

Aviation accidents are not uncommon in Nepal, often due to its remote runways and sudden weather changes that can make for hazardous conditions.

This Himalayan nation, home to some of the most breath-taking mountains in the world, has some of the most difficult terrain to navigate.

A lack of investment in new aircraft and poor regulation have also been blamed in the past.

The European Union has banned Nepalese airlines from its airspace over concerns about training and maintenance standards.

In May 2022 a Tara Air plane crashed in northern Nepal, killing 22 people. Four years earlier 51 people were killed when a flight travelling from Bangladesh caught fire as it landed in Kathmandu.

Chiranjibi Paudel, whose journalist brother Tribhuvan was on the flight, said action had to be taken to improve aviation safety in Nepal.

"The airlines should be penalised and the regulatory body of the government also should be held accountable," he said.

The plane came down close to the newly built Pokhara International Airport, which only opened at the start of the year.

Travellers at the airport told the BBC they fly regularly and still feel safe after today's news - short plane journeys are a popular way for Nepal's middle classes to travel across the country.

"I'm not scared of flying," said Ria who was waiting for her bags to arrive, "but there needs to be better regulations and newer aircraft."

The Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu to the tourist town of Pokhara left the Nepalese capital just after 10:30 (04:45 GMT) for what should have been a short trip.

It had 68 passengers on board, including at least 15 foreign nationals, and four crew members.

Of the passengers, 53 were said to be Nepalese. There were five Indian, four Russians and two Koreans on the plane. There was also one passenger each from Ireland, Australia, Argentina and France among others.

Khum Bahadur Chhetri, a local resident, told Reuters that he was observing the flight from the roof of his home as it approached the airport.

"I saw the plane trembling, moving left and right, and then suddenly it nosedived and it went into the gorge," added.

 

BBC

 

Comments: 1238
#938   Serena
      
9 . What Your Parents Teach You About Ergonomic 3 Wheel Scooter Ergonomic 3 Wheel Scooter
15 December 2025 16:15
#937   Tangela
      
Nine Things That Your Parent Taught You About Metal
Wheelchair Ramps Metal Wheelchair Ramps
15 December 2025 15:44
#936   Stacey
      
Guide To Louisiana Mesothelioma Prognosis: The Intermediate Guide
To Louisiana Mesothelioma Prognosis Louisiana Mesothelioma Prognosis (Http://Www.Caoxiaozhu.Com)
15 December 2025 15:12
#935   Jared
      
15 Secretly Funny People Work In Railroad Settlement toxic substances In railroads
15 December 2025 14:25
#934   Frances
      
Guide To Mobility Scooters Shops Near Me: The Intermediate Guide To Mobility Scooters Shops Near Me mobility Scooters shops near me
- Https://www.Metooo.co.uk/,
15 December 2025 14:22
#933   Soila
      
What's The Job Market For 1kg Of Coffee Beans Price Professionals?
1kg
Of Coffee Beans Price
15 December 2025 14:12
#932   Kellye
      
Ten Self Folding Mobility Scooters That Really Make Your Life Better Self Folding
Mobility Scooters
15 December 2025 14:06
#931   Myrtis
      
Guide To Senior Walker: The Intermediate Guide To Senior Walker
senior Walker
15 December 2025 13:53
#930   Norma
      
See What Remote Control Folding Mobility Scooter Tricks The Celebs Are Making Use Of
Remote Control Folding Mobility Scooter
15 December 2025 13:49
#929   Michell
      
Guide To Espresso Brewer: The Intermediate
Guide Towards Espresso Brewer Espresso Brewer
15 December 2025 13:29
#928   Stephaine
      
The Most Convincing Evidence That You Need Compact Mobility
Scooters Folding Electric
Wheelchairs
15 December 2025 13:13
#927   Colleen
      
See What Custom Handmade Couch Tricks The Celebs Are Making Use Of Custom Handmade
Couch
15 December 2025 12:19
#926   Consuelo
      
What's The Job Market For Asbestos Lung Cancer Louisiana Attorney Professionals?
Asbestos Lung
Cancer Louisiana
15 December 2025 12:02
#925   Houston
      
Why You Should Concentrate On Improving U Shape Sectional Couch sectional sofa chaise
15 December 2025 11:43
#924   Lillian
      
20 Rising Stars To Watch In The U Shaped Sectional With
Chaise Industry U-Shaped Sectional, https://nerdgaming.science/wiki/The_10_Scariest_Things_About_Small_U_Shaped_Sect
ional
,
15 December 2025 11:00
#923   Hester
      
Every weekend i used to go to see this web Private Proxy Site, as i wish for enjoyment, as this this site conations really good funny data
too.
15 December 2025 09:20
#922   Nigel
      
9 Things Your Parents Teach You About Coffee Maker Online coffee maker online
15 December 2025 07:35
#921   Gus
      
Nespresso Dolce Gusto Tools To Help You Manage Your Everyday Lifethe Only Nespresso Dolce Gusto Trick That Every Person Should Know Nespresso Dolce Gusto
15 December 2025 07:00
#920   Jorja
      
Five Killer Quora Answers To Dog Bite Lawyer Dog Bite Lawyer
15 December 2025 06:08
#919   Kristian
      
A Trip Back In Time A Conversation With People About Bean To Cup Coffee Maker 20 Years Ago Bean To Cup Coffee Makers (https://labo.wodkcity.com/index.php?action=profile;u=44065)
15 December 2025 05:26
Add Comments

Name:*
E-Mail:
  Geo Keyboard  
 

Dear reader, guardian.ge welcomes your comments. Please express your views on topic and be respectful of others.

bold italic underline strike | align left centered align right | Ensert smilies insert linkInsert protected URL Choice the color | hidden text insert quote Convert selected text from transliteration to Cyrillic alphabet Insert spoiler

Code: *


Back1 ... 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 62Next