An ATR 72 aircraft of the Yeti Airlines crashed in Pokhara in Nepal. According to the initial reports, the aircraft flew from Kathmandu to Pokhara (205 kms) on Sunday morning and the accident took place while landing at the Pokhara airport, around 11: 10 am IST.  There were a total of 68 passengers and four crew members. Five Indians were among the 15 foreign nationals on the flight.  

At least 36 people have been confirmed dead. The casualties are expected to rise. Preliminary investigation reveals the plane crashed due to technical snag. The crash took place on the banks of River Seti, between the old airport and the Pokhara International Airport, Sudarshan Bartaula, spokesperson of Yeti Airlines, briefed the media.

Images and videos posted on social media platforms showed plumes of smoke billowing from the crash site. The wreckage was on fire and rescue workers were trying to put out the blaze, local official Gurudutta Dhakal put out a circular.

“Rescuers have already arrived at the spot and are trying to douse the fire. All agencies are now focused on rescuing the passengers,” Dhakal added 

In May 2022, all 22 people on board a plane operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air died when it crashed after the air traffic control lost contact with the twin-propeller Twin Otter shortly after it took off from Pokhara. In March 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines plane crash-landed near Kathmandu international airport, killing 51 people.

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