Nepal Plane Crash: Tragedy struck on Sunday when an aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines crashed before landing at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal, resulting in the death of 68 passengers.
Nepal Plane Crash Helpline and Information : For family/relatives of the passengers onboard Yeti Airlines #9NANC flight: Contact person for further information: +977-9802828800 (Ram Lamichhane, Yeti Airlines). Provision of stay at Lekali Hotel (near Gandaki Hospital): +977-9856044914 (Rajiv Gurung).
Civil aviation sources in Kathmandu confirmed the devastating news, stating that the aircraft had 72 passengers on board, including four crew members and at least 15 foreigners. Officials said that four bodies are yet to be recovered.
According to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority, among the passengers on board the ill-fated flight were Indian nationals Sanjay Jaiswal, Sonu Jaiswal, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, Abhishek Kushwaha and Vishal Sharma. Additionally, there were four Russian citizens, two Koreans, one Australian, one Argentinian, one Irish and one French national among the passengers.
Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, expressed his condolences in a social media message, saying, “I am deeply saddened by the 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.”
Helpline Activated for Nepal Plane Crash
Mr. Prachanda reached the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu soon after the aircraft crashed on the runway of Pokhara’s newly built international airport. Visuals taken by nearby residents showed the aircraft tilting towards the left as it approached the ground and crashed with a loud noise.
Nepal Plane Crash – Unidentified Video Goes Viral
An unidentified video of the plane flying closer to the ground, in a “tilted” position, before disappearing behind buildings has gone viral on social media. Many on social media have shared the video, claiming it was the moments before the Nepal plane crash with 72 people onboard, including four crew members.
According to reports, the Yeti Airlines’ 9N-ANC ATR-72 aircraft took off from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:33 am and crashed on the bank of the Seti River between the old airport and the new airport, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
Sudarshan Bartaula, a spokesperson at Yeti Airlines, said, “The weather in Pokhara was absolutely fine and the engine of the aircraft was also in good condition. We don’t know what has happened to the airplane.” The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
“Deeply grieved on hearing about the air crash in Pokhara, Nepal. Our thoughts are with the affected families,” External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said in a message after the accident.
Indian embassy in Kathmandu has confirmed the presence of five Indians on board the crashed aircraft and put out helpline numbers for the public.
Helpline of Embassy: 1 Kathmandu: Shri Diwakar Sharma +977-9851107021 2. Pokhara Lt Col Shashank Tripathi: +977-9856037699. “ Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is monitoring the situation,” said the embassy in its message.
