Nepal plane crash: Tragedy strikes as 68 confirmed dead

A tragic plane crash in Nepal has left the nation in mourning, as the death toll rises to 68.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (TechtUSA) - At least 68 people have been killed in the deadliest plane crash in Nepal in the last 30 years.

The Yeti Airlines "ATR 72" passenger plane, which was carrying 68 passengers and a crew of 4, crashed near the Seti River Valley in the Pokhara region, while on a flight from the capital Kathmandu to Pokhara.

nepal plane crash

Post-crash footages broadcasted by state television showed smoke and flames coming from the wreckage in the steep terrain at the foot of the Himalayas.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called on security forces and the public to support the rescue efforts in the area.

"The plane was tottering"

A police official said, "We have sent 31 bodies to the hospital and we are still removing 33 bodies from the gate," adding that rescuers had difficulty reaching the area located in the pass between the two hills near the airport of the tourist town.

Khum Bahadur Chhetri, a local resident who said he watched the plane from the roof of his house, told Reuters, "I saw the plane had been tottering and then suddenly plunged down and fell into the valley."

In a written statement from the Nepal Civil Aviation Organization, it was reported that among the foreign nationals on the plane, there were 5 Indians, 4 Russians and 2 South Koreans, as well as Irish, Australian, Argentine and French citizens.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but it is believed that poor weather conditions may have been a contributing factor.

Nepal Crash

The aviation industry in Nepal has come under scrutiny in recent years, with concerns raised over safety standards and equipment. This latest incident is sure to renew calls for stricter regulations and improved oversight.

At least 309 people have died in plane or helicopter crashes since 2000 in Nepal, which is home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Everest, and where sudden weather changes can lead to dangerous conditions.

The European Union has banned Nepalese airlines from airspace since 2013, citing security concerns. NDTV shared a footage of the plane crash which was recorded by a local.