Plane carrying 72 people crashes in Nepal

The ATR-72 aircraft crashed near Pokhara International Airport, central Nepal, after taking off at 10:33 a.m. on January 15 from Kathmandu Capital Airport.

"The plane was carrying 68 passengers and four crew members. Rescue operations are underway. We are still not sure if there are any survivors," said Sudarshan Bartaula, spokesman for Nepal's Yeti Airlines.

A Yeti Airlines plane. Photo:Nepal News.

Bartaula added that rescue workers were trying to put out the fire at the crash site. Nepali state television reported that several bodies had been found at the crash site.

Tek Bahadur KC, the district chief of Kaski in Pokhara, said the plane crashed in a valley where the Seti River flows and he informed the government about the accident as soon as he received the information. He also directed the local ambulance service and hospital to be ready to receive the victims.

The Nepalese government said security forces had been called to the scene to help with rescue efforts and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had convened an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the tragedy. Official casualty figures have not been released.

Air accidents occur frequently in Nepal, mainly with small domestic passenger planes, because the country is located in the Himalayas, has rugged terrain and complex weather.

There have been nearly 30 fatal air accidents in Nepal in the past 30 years. In May 2022, a Tara Air plane crashed, killing all 22 people on board.

The scene of the plane crash near Pokhara airport on January 15. Photo:OnlineKhabar

The ATR-72 is a short-haul passenger aircraft that has been in service since 1988. More than 400 ATR-72 aircraft have been produced and serve airlines around the world.

The ATR-72 can carry up to 78 passengers and is operated by two pilots. However, the world has also recorded many accidents involving this type of propeller aircraft.

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