Nepal plane crash LIVE: Black box recovered; body of another passenger found

Anju Khativada, the co-pilot of the ill-fated Yeti Airline ATR-72, was minutes away from realising her dream of becoming a Pilot, when the aircraft, with 72 onboard, crashed in Nepal's Pokhra on Sunday, January 15. READ FULL STORY.

Oshin Ale Magar, a flight attendant who studied in India and died in a plane crash in Nepal, left home on Sunday with a promise that she would return from Pokhara after work to celebrate the Maghe Sankranti festival with her family. What returned, however, was her dead body.

Oshin, 24, was among 69 people who died after Yeti Airlines' 9N-ANC ATR-72 aircraft with 72 people on board, including five Indians, crashed on the bank of the Seti River in central Nepal's resort city of Pokhara on Sunday.

Her family was preparing to celebrate the festival at home when the news of the plane crash reached them.

Her tearful father Mohan Ale Magar, a retired Indian Army personnel, recalls that he had told her early in the morning not to go to work on a special day.

She insisted on celebrating the festival after completing two flights on that fateful day, Mohan told Republica newspaper over the phone.

Oshin had been working with Yeti Airlines for two years. Originally from Madi in Chitwan, she was living in Kathmandu after starting her job and had also invited her parents to stay with her in the capital for the last six months, the report said.

(PTI)
 

Yeti Airlines flight 691 crashed Sunday just before landing in Nepal's tourist city of Pokhara, the gateway to a popular hiking area in the Himalayas, after a 27-minute trip from Kathmandu.

At least 68 of the 72 people aboard have been confirmed dead.

Pilots say Nepal can be a challenging place to fly, but conditions at the time of the crash were good, with low wind, clear skies and temperatures well above freezing. So what might have caused the crash of the ATR 72 aircraft? READ THE STORY HERE.

One of the five Indian nationals onboard the crashed Yeti Airlines plane saw Lord Pashupatinath in a dream, which prompted him to visit Nepal to pay obeisance at the famed Hindu temple here, a Nepalese acquaintance said on Monday.  

Ajaya Shah, 26, who hails from Nepal's Sarlahi district, near the Indian border, said he befriended the four Indian nationals, while returning to Kathmandu from India after completing his honeymoon trip.  

The five Indians on board the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane were identified as Abhisekh Kushwaha, 25, Bishal Sharma, 22, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, 27, Sonu Jaiswal, 35, and Sanjaya Jaiswal, officials said.  

Shah said he was gutted to hear the news of the aviation disaster, and noted that he booked the air tickets for the four Indian nationals, arranged Nepalese currency and even dropped them at the airport on Sunday before they embarked on the ill-fated journey on the Yeti Airlines plane.  

My wife and I were in the same vehicle with the four Indian nationals, while returning from Birgunj to Kathmandu. In just two days we became good friends, Shah recalled.  

Jaiswal, a liquor store owner from Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district, told Shah that he saw Lord Pashupatinath in a dream, which made him undertake the trip to the famed Hindu temple in Kathmandu.  

PTI

Nepal Army to resume search operation tomorrow as three people remain unaccounted for in the aircraft crash in Pokhara of Kaski District, Nepal Army said in a statement.

The plane crash in Nepal's Pokhara has made the Alawalpur Afga village of Ghazipur inconsolable, as among the five Indians who were killed in the Yeti Airlines aircraft crash on Sunday, four were residents of this UP district.

The deceased are identified as Abhishek Kushwaha, Vishal Sharma, Sonu and Anil Rajbhar. All of them were between 22 to 27 years of age group and were running different businesses here. Their family members are in a state of distress.

Chandra Maurya, the father of the late Kushwaha, said he was the only earning member of the family. The deceased used to run a public service centre.

The same is the situation at Vishal Sharma's house where villagers have gathered to share their grief while his elder brother and father are in a state of shock.

His friends said that they could not believe that Sharma was no more among them.

One of his friends said that when the plane was about to land, he was liking his friend's photograph on Facebook, and Sharma was in a live chat with his friends.

The whole district is inconsolable and the local shopkeepers have not opened their shops today.
 

Little did anyone in Pathanamthitta realise that a plane crash in Nepal will leave a family in their quiet pilgrim town completely shattered.

The Yeti airlines that crashed in Pokhara on Saturday was carrying among others, three close friends of a family in Pathanamthitta, about 100 Kilometres from the state capital. 

The family members who had already lost a male elder, were now inconsolable as three of their friends from Nepal who had come to attend the funeral, had met with an untimely end.

The victims Raju, Rabin and Anil had reached Anicadu in Pathanamthitta from Nepal on Friday morning to participate in the funeral of Mathew Philip, an evangelical Christian missionary, with whom they were emotionally connected through faith since his missionary days in the Himalayan nation.

Philip, 76, died on January 11 after battling cancer for two years.

"The funeral was on January 13. Their return flight was from Kochi to Mumbai and from there to Kathmandu. Deepak and Saran could not board the ill-fated flight from Kathmandu but the other three took the flight. The news was a shock to us," Philip's brother Thomas told PTI.

Philip had returned from Nepal two years ago and was undergoing treatment for cancer.

"We were very close to them. They were so dear to my daddy," Philip's daughter told a news channel.

PTI
 

The crashed ATR-72 Nepalese passenger plane was previously used by the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, according to Cirium Fleets data.

According to Cirium Fleets data, which tracks aircraft fleet, equipment and its cost, the 9N-ANC aircraft was delivered to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines in 2007.

Six years later, it was bought by Thailand's Nok Air, before it was sold to Nepal's Yeti Airlines in 2019, it said

Officials said 35 bodies out of 68 have been identified so far as Nepal began a national day of mourning on Monday.

Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered as search and rescue teams rappelled down a 300-metre gorge to continue their efforts, which were suspended overnight.

Prominent Nepali journalist Tribhuvan Poudyal was among the 68 passengers who were killed when a Yeti Airlines aircraft, with 72 on board crashed into a river gorge while landing at the newly-opened airport in the resort city of Pokhara.

The deadly crash, which took place on Sunday, is Nepal's deadliest aviation accident in over 30 years.

Poudyal, 37, was a central executive member of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), an umbrella organisation of journalists in Nepal.

Nepal Army has handed over the Flight data recorder and black box of the aircraft to the Civil Aviation Authority official via the District Administration Office (DAO).

Local resident Kalpana Sunar was washing clothes in the front yard of her house on Sunday when she saw an aircraft hurtling towards her, before being jolted by a bomb-like explosion caused by the Yeti Airlines plane, which crashed while landing in Nepal's resort city of Pokhara.

The flight took off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:33 am on Sunday and crashed on the bank of the Seti River between the old airport and the new airport in Pokhara, minutes before landing.

At least 68 people have died and four people are still missing, officials said, in Nepal's worst aviation tragedy in over three decades

Sunar was washing clothes in the front yard of her house when she saw an aircraft falling from the sky and coming in her direction, The Kathmandu Post newspaper quoted her as saying on Monday.

The aircraft was tilted at an unusual angle and moments later, I heard a bomb-like explosion, she was quoted as saying.

Then I saw a plume of black smoke billowing from the Seti River gorge, she added.

One of the plane's wings hit the ground about 12 metres from the house of another local resident Geeta Sunar.

"Had the aircraft fallen just a bit closer to our home, the settlements would have been destroyed, the newspaper quoted her as saying.

There was so much damage at the incident site, but since it happened away from the settlement, there were no casualties or any damage to the settlements, she said, adding that there was fire on both sides of the Seti River gorge, with bodies scattered everywhere.

Children who witnessed the incident said they could hear passengers screaming from inside the aircraft as it came hurtling from the sky, the report said.

Two 11-year-olds, Samir and Prajwal Pariyar initially thought the aircraft was a toy, but when it came close, they ran away, the report said.

PTI
 

The family members of the four deceased Indian passengers who died in the deadly crash will visit Nepal for identification and DNA testing. The four people identified as Sonu Jaiswal, Anil Rajbhar, Abhishek Kushwaha and Vishal Sharma were the residents of Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh. However, the body of the fifth Indian passenger is still missing 

A black box has been retrieved from the Yeti Airlines aircraft that crashed on the morning of Sunday in Nepal’s Pokhara. The instrument, which is one of the most crucial tellers of the cause behind air accidents, is likely to reveal what transpired in the ill-fated flight moments before it nosedived, killing at least 68 people on board.

Four of the five Indians feared killed in a plane crash in Nepal on Sunday hailed from Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The four people from Ghazipur district were identified as Sonu Jaiswal, Anil Rajbhar, Abhishek Kushwaha and Vishal Sharma.

Ghazipur District Magistrate Aryaka Akhauri told PTI over phone that the administration has reach out to the affected families. "Our sub-divisional magistrate and other officials are meeting them. We are also in touch with the embassy.... We will do the needful after the recovery of bodies," she said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the deaths and said officials have been directed to coordinate with the Ministry of External affairs to bring the mortal remains of the deceased to the state.

After the delay due to bad weather conditions, the search and rescue operation in the Nepal air crash resumed in Pokhara on Monday morning. This comes a day after Yeti Airlines' 9N-ANC ATR-72 aircraft crashed and claimed 68 lives so far, as per the latest toll.

The search and rescue operation in the Nepal aircraft crash is being delayed as the weather conditions have hampered the process. The operation will be carried out to find out the remaining bodies that are trapped in a deep river gorge surrounded by steep cliffs. At least 68 people were killed when Yeti Airlines' 9N-ANC ATR-72 aircraft with 72 people on board, 68 passengers and four crew members, including five Indians, crashed on the bank of the Seti River in central Nepal's resort city of Pokhara.

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers following Sunday's aircraft crash in Pokhara in which all the people on board are feared to have died. In addition to calling the meeting, Dahal directed the country's home ministry, security personnel and all the government agencies to carry out immediate rescue and relief operations, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday expressed condolences over the tragic aircraft crash in Nepal in which 68 people died including five Indians. Taking to Twitter, the Chief Minister said "The plane crash in Nepal is very sad. A humble tribute to all the people who died in this, including the Indian citizens! My condolences are with the bereaved families. May Lord Shri Ram grant place to the departed souls in His holy feet and speedy recovery to the injured."

In yet another tweet, CM Yogi said, "Officials have been instructed to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs to make arrangements to bring the mortal remains of the deceased people of Uttar Pradesh to the state".

No one was rescued alive from the Nepal Aircraft crash site and the search operation will resume in today morning, informed Krishna Prasad Bhandari, Spox of Nepal Army.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has issuesd a statement on Twitter. 

Abhisekh Kushwaha, 25, Bishal Sharma, 22, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, 27, Sonu Jaiswal, 35, and Sanjaya Jaiswal were the 5 Indians on board. Four out of these 5 were in Nepal to try paragliding. The oldest person amongst all the Indians on board, Sonu Jaiswal, was a resident of Varanasi. 

Yeti airlines has cancelled all domestic flights from the 16th of January, however, emergency and rescue flights will continue. 

Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari Bhandari has said that she is 'shocked' by the news of the plane crash. 

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the death toll is currently 68. 

Prof. Dr. Bharat Bahadur Khatri, director of Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences has said that 64 bodies including one child's body are currently at the hospital. He added that the process of identifying the deceased has started.

Home Minister Lamichhane Nepal has said that he and the Nepalese PM are not visiting Pokhara because the crowd would increase if they went to the crash site. As of now, 64 bodies have been sent to Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences. 

The Mayor of Pokhara is speaking with Republic TV. He said that the flight crashed 2 km away from the airport. On being asked if the airports are operational, he said no. He also said that he has no heard anything about the survivors and added that no local residents have been physically harmed as a result of the crash.  

Two Nepalese citizens who survived the crash are reportedly in critical condition. 

The Cabinet meeting held in Baluwatar today has ordered technical tests of all domestic flights.

The emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers was held after the Yeti Airlines plane with 72 people on board crashed in Pokhara.

Earlier there were reports that everyone on board has passed away but now reports are emerging which suggest two survivors have been rescued. 

Nepal Secretariat has stated that Nepalese PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal's and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane's visit to Pokhara has been cancelled. 

Abhisekh Kushwaha, Bishal Sharma, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, Sonu Jaiswal and Sanjaya Jaiswal are the five Indians that were on board. 

The Nepal government has declared a public holiday on Monday, January 16, 2023, to grieve the loss of lives in the plane crash that occurred in the city of Pokhara on Sunday. 

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will be meeting the family members of the passengers who died in the Yeti Airlines plane crash on Sunday. He will also be visiting the site of the crash. 

Kathmandu-based airline carrier Yeti Airlines issued a press release in the wake of its flight that crashed in the Nepalese city of Pokhara on Sunday, killing all passengers. 

Nepal Government has formed a five-member committee to investigate the plane crash in Pokhara. 

Rescue operations have faced challenges due to the large number of people gathered at the site of the plane crash in Pokhara, Nepal. Security personnel at the scene said that rescue vehicles faced difficulties in reaching the site of the accident due to traffic.

There have been problems in delivering water tankers and fire engines from Budhchok as well. The overwhelming crowd has also posed problems in cellular communication at the accident site.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, "Yeti Airlines plane has crashed in Pokhara in Nepal and it has been reported that Indian nationals were also on board the plane carrying 72 passengers. This accident is very sad. Heartfelt tributes to the Indians and other citizens who lost their lives in this accident."

Ambassador of Nepal to India Dr. Shankar P Sharma offered condolences over the deadly plane crash that occurred in Pokhara, Nepal on Sunday. 

“We are deeply saddened by the crash of a plane carrying 72 passengers and crew members, including some Indians in Pokhara. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased,” he said, adding that “Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with all those affected by this tragedy.”

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal convened an emergency meeting with the council of ministers in the wake of the aircraft crash in Pokhara. The premier also told the security personnel, the home ministry, and all government agencies to carry out search, rescue and relief operations immediately. 

The Indian Embassy in Nepal released helpline numbers after five Indians died in the Yeti Airlines plane crash on Sunday in Pokhra. The embassy is in touch with the Nepalese authorities and is currently assessing the situation.

Helplines of Embassy:

I) Kathmandu: Shri Diwakar Sharma:+977-9851107021 

II) Pokhara: Lt Col Shashank Tripathi: +977-9856037699

According to reports, Indians were among the passengers who were aboard the Yeti Airlines aircraft that crashed in Nepal's Pokhara on Sunday. Further details are awaited of the particulars of the Indians on board.

According to the airport authority, the Yeti Airlines flight that crashed in Pokhara, Nepal, was carrying 53 Nepalese, five Indians, four Russians, two Koreans, one Irish, one Argentinian, and one French national onboard. 

All 68 passengers and 4 cabin crew members died in the Yeti Airlines plane crash in Pokhara, Nepal, on the morning of Sunday, according to official confirmation provided by the District Administration Office of Kaski district. Dead bodies of 30 passengers have been found so far. 

The flight crashed while landing at the city’s airport. Five Indians and 10 foreign nationals were among the passengers involved in the crash. India has asked for a list of its Indian passengers who boarded the flight.

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', along with Deputy PM and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane, visited Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport after the deadly crash of a Yeti Airlines flight on Sunday. 

The PM and deputy PM arrived at the airport’s rescue coordination center to receive in-depth information about the tragic incident.

Video circulating on social media displays the Yeti Airlines plane moments before it met a fatal crash in Pokhara, Nepal, on Sunday. 

Four Russian nationals were onboard the Yeti Airlines ATR-72 flight that crashed on Sunday. At least five Indians were also among the passengers in the fatal crash.

According to The Kathmandu Post, the passengers involved in the fatal Yeti Airlines crash on Sunday included three infants and three children.

Sunday's Yeti Airlines plane crash comes merely 12 days after the airline carrier was inaugurated in Nepal. Initial reports suggest that the crashed aircraft was manufactured in China. 

Following the fatal Yeti Airlines plane crash, the Pokhara International Airport was temporarily shut as search and rescue operations continue. 

Republic obtained the complete flight manifest of the Yeti Airlines aircraft that crashed in Pokhara on Sunday. 

Indian Union Minister for Civil Aviation & Steel Jyotiraditya M. Scindia condoled the deaths that occurred in the Yeti Airlines plane crash on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, Scindia wrote: “The loss of lives in a tragic plane crash in Nepal is extremely unfortunate. My thoughts & prayers are with the families of the bereaved. Om Shanti.”

A total of 30 bodies have been recovered from the site where the plane crash occurred, Chief District Officer Tek Bahadur KC informed local media.

At least four Indians were among the passengers onboard in the Yeti Airlines flight that crashed in Pokhara on Sunday.

The Yeti Airlines aircraft that crashed in Pokhara on Sunday was using archaic technologies and was not in accordance with international flying standards, as per reports.

Sources have revealed that 16 bodies have been recovered so far from the Yeti Airlines plane crash. 

In May 2022, all 22 people on board a plane operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air -- 16 Nepalis, four Indians and two Germans -- died when it crashed. In March 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines plane crash-landed near Kathmandu's notoriously difficult international airport, killing 51 people.

The Indian High Commission in Kathmandu has been apprised of the Nepal plane crash in Pokhara. Indians were said to be onboard the Yeti Airlines plane. 

Taking to his Twitter handle, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Daha “Prachanda” reacted to the tragic air accident that occurred on Sunday. 

"I am deeply saddened by the sad and 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," he tweeted.

An aircraft of Yeti airlines carrying 68 passengers and four crew members crashed in Pokhara, Nepal at around 11 am on Sunday, January 15, 2023.

As per Yeti Airlines spokesperson Sudarshan Bartaula who spoke to The Kathmandu Post, "A total of 68 passengers and four crew members were on board the Yeti airlines aircraft that crashed between the old airport and the Pokhara International Airport."