Nepal plane carrying 72 people crashes in Pokhara, 40 dead; 5 Indians among passengers on board

NEW DELHI: A 72-seat passenger aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines tragically crashed upon landing at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal’s Kaski district on Sunday. At least 40 lives have been lost, reported news agency Reuters.
There were 5 Indians, 4 Russians, 1 Irish and 2 South Korean nationals among the passengers.
Emergency rescue operations are currently being conducted at the airport with bodies being recovered, stated reports.
A total of 72 people – 68 passengers and 4 crew members – were on board the ill-fated flight, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Yeti Airlines.

Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called an emergency cabinet meeting following the crash, and directed effective rescue operations .

Images and videos of the crash posted on social media showed smoke billowing from the site.

As per reports, the airport has been closed temporarily owing to the incident. Pokhara, in central Nepal, is a lakeside tourist mecca nestled below the Annapurna mountain range.

More details related to the accident are awaited.
Past crashes in the country

1. Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Everest, has a record of air accidents.
2. In May 2022, all 22 passengers, including four Indians, were killed when Tara Airplane crashed.
3. In 2016, all 23 people aboard were killed when a plane of the same airline flying the same route crashed after takeoff.
4. In March 2018, a US-Bangla Air crash occurred at the Tribhuvan International Airport, killing 51 people on board.
5. A Sita Air flight crashed in September 2012 while making an emergency landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, killing 19 people.
6. A plane flying from Pokhara to Jomsom crashed near Jomsom airport on May 14, 2012, killing 15 people.