32 killed as Nepal passenger plane with 72 people onboard crashes in Pokhara

At least 32 people were killed when a Nepalese passenger plane with 72 people onboard including five Indians crashed into a river gorge on Sunday while landing at the Pokhara airport according to media reportsAccording to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal CAAN Yeti Airlines 9NANC ATR72 aircraft took off from Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport at 1033 am Pokhara is a major tourist destination in the Himalayan nationWhile 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 Republica newspaper reportedAlso Read Nepals commitment to democracy an example to world says USAt least 32 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage site The Himalayan Times newspaper reportedFive Indians were among the total 15 foreign nationals onboard the plane the paper reportedOther foreign nationals included four Russians two Koreans and an Australian an Irish an Argentinian and a FrenchThe plane was piloted by captain Kamal K C and Assistant Captain Anju KhatiwadaAccording to Tek Bahadur KC Chief District Officer of the Kaski district the plane crashed into the Seti river gorge Rescue operations are currently being conducted he was quoted as saying by The Himalayan Times newspaperMinister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers following the crashHe expressed sadness over the crash and directed the Home Ministry security personnel and all the government agencies to carry out immediate rescue and relief operationsDetails of the accident are yet to comeImages and videos posted on social media platforms showed plumes of smoke billowing from the crash siteNepal has had a fraught record of aviation accidents partly due to its sudden weather changes and airstrips located in hardtoaccess rocky terrainsThe last major air accident in Nepal happened on May 29 when all 22 people onboard including four members of an Indian family were killed as a Tara Air plane crashed in Nepals mountainous Mustang districtIn 2016 all 23 people aboard were killed when a plane of the same airline flying the same route crashed after takeoffIn March 2018 a USBangla Air crash occurred at the Tribhuvan International Airport killing 51 people on boardA Sita Air flight crashed in September 2012 while making an emergency landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport killing 19 peopleA plane flying from Pokhara to Jomsom crashed near Jomsom airport on May 14 2012 killing 15 peopleThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever