23 killed in Nepal plane crash

Kathmandu, February 24

The Twin-Otter turboprop aircraft of Tara Air had gone missing minutes after it took off from the airport in the resort town of Pokhara on its way to Jomsom, the starting point of people trekking the Himalayas.

Its burnt-out wreckage was found in the western district of Myagdi and bodies could be seen scattered around it.

Ananda Pokharel, minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, said the wreckage was found in Solighopte forest. “All aboard the N9-AHH aircraft were killed in the crash,” he said.

Those aboard the plane were 18 Nepalese citizens, including two children, two foreigners and three crew members. One of the foreigners has been confirmed to be a Chinese and another Kuwaiti national. The aircraft caught fire after it crashed, according to a search and rescue team present at the site of the accident.

Officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said the reason for crash was yet to be probed. Residents in the area said they saw a huge explosion and fire in the remote area. A preliminary investigation has suggested that low visibility due to a cloud of dust shrouding the area following dry landslides in Mount Annapurna might have caused the crash.

According to Home Ministry officials, there were dust particles in seven villages around the site in the district. Earlier, three helicopters were dispatched from Kathmandu to locate the aircraft, while Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel were also mobilised. — PTI