At least 40 people were killed, Sunday, January 15, 2023, when a plane crashed in the central city of Pokhara , an official of Nepal ‘s Civil Aviation Authority said.
Jagannath Nirula, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority, said, “Rescue operations are continuing (…)”, while Sudarshan Partola, a spokesman for Yeti Airlines, said that the stricken plane operated by the company is a twin-engine, AT model. R72) was carrying 72 people, including two infants, four crew members and ten foreigners.
Video of what seems to be moments before the crash of Yeti Airlines🇳🇵 ATR72 carrying 72 passengers near Pokhara Airport#aerowanderer #aviation #avgeek #nepal #yetiairlines pic.twitter.com/hk12Edlvpf
— Aerowanderer (@aerowanderer) January 15, 2023
Television footage broadcast by a local station showed thick smoke billowing from the crash site, while rescue workers and crowds of people gathered around the wreckage of the plane. The tourist city of Pokhara is 200 km west of the capital, Kathmandu.
In turn, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the plane was heading from the capital, Kathmandu, to the city of Pokhara, calling on the security authorities and citizens to help in the rescue efforts.
#Nepal
— Aishwarya Paliwal (@AishPaliwal) January 15, 2023
72 passengers were on board. Plane crash at Pokhra International Airport. pic.twitter.com/igBoObcCDm
Aircraft accidents are not uncommon in Nepal, which has eight mountains among the 14 highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest, as the weather can change suddenly and increase the danger to air navigation.
Last year, 22 people were killed when a private Nepalese Tara Air plane crashed shortly after take-off from Pokhara
