The Yeti Airlines flight had 68 passengers and four crew members on board, the airline said
FILE PHOTO: Yeti Airlines aircraft ATR 72 in Kathmandu-Tribhuvan International airport © jetphotos.com
A Yeti Airlines ATR 72 plane with 68 passengers and four crew members on board crashed in Nepal during a domestic flight from the capital, Kathmandu to Pokhara on Sunday.
A video posted on social media appears to show the jet flying at low altitude moments before the tragedy.
A rescue team was flown to the crash site on a helicopter, according to the Kathmandu Post. “Responders have already reached there and [are] trying to douse the fire,” local official Gurudutta Dhakal said, as quoted by the media.
Jagannath Niroula, spokesman for Nepal’s civil aviation authority, was quoted by Reuters as saying that at least 40 people were killed. Six children were among the passengers, the Kathmandu Post said.
According to reports, the plane crashed while trying to land at Pokhara International Airport amid inclement weather conditions.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has convened an emergency government meeting to coordinate the rescue efforts. All flights from the Pokhara airport have been suspended.
