Plane crash in Nepal: difficult search for survivors

Rescue workers search for survivors after plane crash in Nepal. Many dead have already been recovered – possibly including foreigners. Nepal’s prime minister announced a comprehensive investigation.

Wreckage is everywhere in the gorge. Dense smoke rises: Videos from the crash site show emergency services trying to extinguish the fire and looking for survivors. Onlookers jostle along the steep slope that leads to a river.

Lots of foreign passengers on board

According to the passenger list, in addition to four crew members, 68 passengers were on board – including 53 Nepalese. In addition, at least 15 foreigners, including from India, Russia and Korea. According to the airline, it is still unclear whether people survived the crash.

A video posted on social media shows the twin-engine aircraft flying very low over the houses and suddenly turning 45 degrees. As if the pilot had lost control. Shortly thereafter, the impact can be heard.

Rescue workers are recovering bodies. According to the Nepalese military, the plane broke up. In an interview with an Indian television station, operations manager Shambu Subedi spoke of the difficult conditions: “Unfortunately, we have not found any survivors so far,” he says. At the moment, the rescue workers tried to recover bodies from the rubble. “It’s very difficult in the steep gorge. We’re doing our best and we hope to complete the rescue operation by tonight.”

Nepal’s prime minister convenes special commission

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal told journalists in front of Kathmandu International Airport at noon: “It was a tragic incident. All forces are deployed for the rescue work. The investigation is ongoing. I have called an emergency cabinet meeting.” He called a five-member commission to investigate the accident.

The Yeti Airlines machine took off from Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on Sunday morning and crashed shortly before landing in Pokhara. The cause is still unclear. Visibility was clear at the time of the accident.

Popular holiday area

Pokhara is about 200 kilometers northwest of Kathmandu and is the starting point for many trekking tours in the Annapurna Mountains in the Himalayas. Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated just two weeks ago.

Criticism of Nepalese airlines is heard again and again. There is talk of safety concerns and inadequate staff training. Aviation expert Kunda Dixit also criticized this in an interview with the last year ARD Studio South Asia: “We need to get better, better equipment, better training, better regulations, better implementation of those better regulations, better equipment, especially for the weather.”

Airplanes keep crashing in the mountainous region of Nepal. Last year, a plane was supported by a subsidiary of Yeti Airlines. Two Germans were among the 22 dead.