Plane with 72 occupants crashes in Nepal – almost all occupants found dead WEF warns: these crises could befall us in years to come

A plane crashed in Nepal, killing at least 68 people. Their bodies were recovered from the crash site in the middle of the city of Pokhara, the starting point of numerous Himalayan treks, according to the Nepalese aviation authority. It is one of the worst flying accidents in the poor Himalayan country in years. The cause was unclear on Sunday.

The plane of the local Yeti Airlines with 72 people on board crashed on Sunday morning during the half-hour flight between the capital Kathmandu and the second largest city Pokhara, the aviation authority said. Last contact with the airport was at 10:50 am local time. From Pokhara, many hiking enthusiasts head to the Annapurna massif, a popular hiking area. Rather than taking a short-haul flight, Pokhara can also be reached in a six-hour drive from the capital.

The wreckage remained in a ravine in the middle of the city, images on Nepalese television and social media showed it surrounded by dark smoke and fire. Hundreds of police and army personnel were involved in the rescue effort, a police spokesman said. Local residents were also at the scene of the accident and, according to local media, helped to extinguish the fire. The investigation into the cause of the crash continued.

The crashed aircraft was an ATR 72-500, a short-haul regional airliner. The twin-engine ATR-72 machines are also in use elsewhere in the world. According to the company, Yeti Airlines’ fleet consists of six aircraft of this type. The French-Italian company Avions de Transport Régional (ATR), a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo, says it is helping to investigate the crash. Yeti Airlines said all the airline’s flights were canceled on Monday.

Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed his sorrow and ordered security forces, all Nepalese government agencies and local people to help with the security work. The Nepalese government has declared Monday a national day of mourning in response to the accident. (sda/dpa)