Plane crash in Nepal: Search and rescue operations continue with at least 68 dead

CNN
–

Hundreds of emergency personnel on Monday resumed the search for four missing people after a Fatal plane crash in Nepal, which once again highlighted the dangers of air travel in a country often cited as one of the most dangerous places to fly.

Of the 72 people on board, at least 68 perished when Yeti Airlines A plane crashed near the city of Pokhara on Sunday in the Himalayan country’s worst air disaster in 30 years. It was also the third worst aviation accident in Nepal’s history, according to data from the Aviation Safety Network.

Experts say conditions such as inclement weather, low visibility, and mountainous terrain all contribute to Nepal’s reputation as dangerous to fly.

On Sunday, a Yeti Airlines flight was about to finish its short journey from the capital, Kathmandu, to Pokhara when it lost contact with a control tower. The country’s civil aviation authority said about 15 foreigners were on board.

Pokhara, a lakeside city, is a popular tourist destination and gateway to the Himalayas. It serves as the starting point for the popular Annapurna Circuit trekking trail, with over 181,000 foreigners visiting the area in 2019.

A government commission is now investigating the cause of the crash with the help of the French authorities. The Yeti Airlines aircraft is manufactured by the airline ATR, which is based in France.

Volatile weather patterns are not the only problem for flight operations. according to Safety Report 2019 From the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority, the country’s “hostile terrain” is also part of the “huge challenge” facing pilots.

Nepal, a country of 29 million people, is home to eight of the 14 highest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest, and its rugged landscapes make it a popular tourist destination for trekkers.

But this terrain can be difficult to navigate from the air, especially during bad weather, and things are made worse by the need to use small planes to get to remote and mountainous parts of the country.

The Civil Aviation Authority report said that aircraft with 19 seats or fewer are more likely to suffer accidents due to these challenges.

Kathmandu is the main transit hub for Nepal, from where many of these small flights depart.

The airport located in the town of Lukla, in northeastern Nepal, is often referred to as an airport The most dangerous airport in the world. The runway, known as Everest Gate, is located on a slope between the mountains, to descend directly into the abyss at the end. It has witnessed many fatal accidents over the years, including in 2008 and 2019.

Underinvestment in older aircraft increases aviation risks.

In 2015, the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency, Prioritize aid for Nepal Through the Aviation Safety Implementation Assistance Partnership. Two years later, the International Civil Aviation Organization and Nepal announced a partnership to resolve safety concerns.

While in recent years the state has made improvements to its safety standards, challenges remain.

In May 2022, Tara Air flight departed from Pokhara I hit a mountainkilling 22 people.

In early 2018, an American-Bangla Airlines flight from the Bengali capital, Dhaka, to Kathmandu Crashed on landing It caught fire, killing 51 of the 71 people on board.

And in 2016, it was Tara Flight has crashed While flying on the same route as the plane that went missing on Sunday. This incident involved a recently acquired Twin Otter flying in clear conditions.