Nearly five months since Beijing inaugurated the Pokhara International Airport (PIA) in Nepal under its Belt and Road initiative, the airport is yet to receive a single international flight.

Nearly five months since Beijing inaugurated the Pokhara International Airport (PIA) in Nepal under its Belt and Road initiative, the airport is yet to receive a single international flight. With the airport performing dismally and barely sustaining itself, questions are rising if it could be a debt trap by the Chinese side to corner Nepal. Even before the airport was inaugurated for take off, troubles had started to mount. A day prior to the opening, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu unilaterally announced that the Pokhara International Airport was a “flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation”. “This is the flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation. Warmly congratulations to Nepali Gov and Nepali people!” the embassy said. The declaration riled up the Nepalese government with newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ expressing concerns over why and how this issue had surfaced at such a critical time. Notably, former Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had handed over the airport to the then Nepal prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, during a courtesy call held at Baluwatar last year. Two weeks after the inauguration, the airport garnered international headlines yet again but for all the wrong reasons. A Yeti Airlines twin-engine ATR 72 plane crashed, attempting a landing at the airport. Reportedly, the plane crashed on the bank of the Seti River between the old airport and the new airport. There were 72 people onboard the plane, including two infants, four crew members and 10 foreign nationals. According to reports, 68 died in the crash. ALSO READ | Nepal plane crash: Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated two weeks ago, built with Chinese assistance China's debt-trap? According to The Annapurna Express, in March 2016, China's Exim Bank provided $215.96 million in a loan agreement for the construction of the airport, which is surrounded by the pristine Annapurna Mountain Range In order to sustain itself, the airport should be conducting at least 100 daily domestic and 500 weekly international flights, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The airport has to pay $3.2 million alone in annual interest for which it needs to have income in excess of $19 million when it operates at full potential. However, experts argue that even then, the airport would struggle to pay the installments on time. WATCH | Nepal Plane Crash: Pokhara International Airport temporarily closed × Bikram Raj Gautam, chief of PIA is still optimistic about pulling international flights to the airport. However, to avoid criticism, he suggests profit should not be calculated with the money airport makes. "The construction of this airport cost around Rs 22bn. We won’t be able to make a profit instantly as it is a long-term investment. The profit of PIA should not only be calculated in terms of the airport’s earnings. But rather we should see how much help the airport provides in terms of services to passengers, small and large-scale tourism businesses and the development of Pokhara city, among other factors," Gautam was quoted as saying by the publication. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LUVE HERE:

Chinese-built Pokhara Airport yet to receive any international flights: Report

In pics| Heartwrenching images emerge from Nepal plane crash site

Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport, where the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane having onboard 72 passengers was scheduled to land but crashed minutes before, did not have a working landing guiding system&nbsp;that&nbsp;helps planes land safely on runway, an airport official has revealed.&nbsp;A landing guiding system or instrument landing system helps pilots struggling with visibility maintain visual contact with surrounding obstacles and the ground.

Jagannath Niroula, a spokesperson for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, told the news agency AP that the situation will remain the same until February 26—56 days after the airport began operations on January 1.

The airport was built with assistance from China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure project. In 2016, the Nepal government had signed a $215.96 million soft loan agreement with Beijing for the construction of the airport in the tourist city.

Despite the instrument landing system remaining defunct at the time of the crash, conditions on Sunday were said to be good, with low winds&nbsp;and clear skies.

An expert opined that a lack of an instrument landing system could be a "contributory cause" of the accident and highlighted a "notoriously bad air safety culture" in Nepal.

<h2>Gravitas | Nepal air crash: Is the Nepalese government to blame?</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-nepal-air-crash-is-the-nepalese-government-to-blame-553265/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He said that pilots in Nepal encounter in-flight visibility problems as the country is surrounded by mountains.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-crash-70-confirmed-dead-as-rescuers-search-for-two-missing-passengers-553338">Nepal plane crash: 70 bodies retrieved as rescuers search for two missing passengers</a>

Though it is still not clear as to what led the plane to crash, it is believed that—based on the videos of the plane’s final moments before the crash—it went into a stall, although it is unclear why.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-plane-crash-deceased-co-pilots-husband-also-flew-same-airline-died-in-crash-16-years-ago-553191">Deceased co-pilot’s husband also flew same airline, died in crash 16 years ago</a>

“Flying in Nepal becomes challenging if you don’t have navigational aids and puts an extra workload on the pilot whenever they experience problems during a flight,” Amit Singh, an experienced pilot and founder of India’s Safety Matters Foundation, told AP news agency.

“Lack of an instrument landing system only reaffirms that Nepal’s air safety culture is not adequate.”

The twin-engine ATR 72-500 aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight recorder were retrieved on Monday.

Yeti Airlines said that the plane’s cockpit voice recorder is being analysed locally, and the flight data recorder will be sent to France. Experts from France have been assisting in the probe into the crash.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport, where the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane having onboard 72 passengers was scheduled to land but crashed minutes before, did not have a working landing guiding system that helps planes land safely on runway, an airport official has revealed.

Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport, where the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane having onboard 72 passengers was scheduled to land but crashed minutes before, did not have a working landing guiding system that helps planes land safely on runway, an airport official has revealed. A landing guiding system or instrument landing system helps pilots struggling with visibility maintain visual contact with surrounding obstacles and the ground. Jagannath Niroula, a spokesperson for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, told the news agency AP that the situation will remain the same until February 26—56 days after the airport began operations on January 1. The airport was built with assistance from China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure project. In 2016, the Nepal government had signed a $215.96 million soft loan agreement with Beijing for the construction of the airport in the tourist city. Despite the instrument landing system remaining defunct at the time of the crash, conditions on Sunday were said to be good, with low winds and clear skies. An expert opined that a lack of an instrument landing system could be a "contributory cause" of the accident and highlighted a "notoriously bad air safety culture" in Nepal. Gravitas | Nepal air crash: Is the Nepalese government to blame? He said that pilots in Nepal encounter in-flight visibility problems as the country is surrounded by mountains. Also read | Nepal plane crash: 70 bodies retrieved as rescuers search for two missing passengers Though it is still not clear as to what led the plane to crash, it is believed that—based on the videos of the plane’s final moments before the crash—it went into a stall, although it is unclear why. Also Read | Deceased co-pilot’s husband also flew same airline, died in crash 16 years ago “Flying in Nepal becomes challenging if you don’t have navigational aids and puts an extra workload on the pilot whenever they experience problems during a flight,” Amit Singh, an experienced pilot and founder of India’s Safety Matters Foundation, told AP news agency. “Lack of an instrument landing system only reaffirms that Nepal’s air safety culture is not adequate.” The twin-engine ATR 72-500 aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight recorder were retrieved on Monday. Yeti Airlines said that the plane’s cockpit voice recorder is being analysed locally, and the flight data recorder will be sent to France. Experts from France have been assisting in the probe into the crash. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nepal plane crash: Pokhara airport, built with Chinese assistance, did not have landing guidance system

Medical officials in Nepal started the grim process of delivering bodies to mourning families following Tuesday's crash of an aircraft carrying 72 passengers, the worst aviation accident in the Himalayan nation in three decades.&nbsp;

On Sunday, a Yeti Airlines plane carrying 68 passengers and four crew members crashed onto a cliff, broke apart, and caught fire as it approached Pokhara.

Six children and 15 foreigners were among those on board, and it is suspected that they all died.

Rescue workers have been working nearly nonstop to remove the dead bodies from the gorge, which is littered with twisted airplane seats and pieces of fuselage and wing.

Police spokesman AK Chhetri told AFP that by early Tuesday, 70 bodies had been discovered. The previous day, a top official stated that there was "no chance" of discovering any survivors.

"We retrieved one body last night. But it was three pieces. We are not sure whether it's three bodies or one body. It will be confirmed only after a DNA test," Chhetri said.

He stated that the search for the two remaining bodies&nbsp;had been extended to a two to three-kilometre (one to two-mile) area and that drones were being deployed.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

Medical officials in Nepal started the grim process of delivering bodies to mourning families following Tuesday's crash of an aircraft carrying 72 passengers, the worst aviation accident in the Himalayan nation in three decades.

Medical officials in Nepal started the grim process of delivering bodies to mourning families following Tuesday's crash of an aircraft carrying 72 passengers, the worst aviation accident in the Himalayan nation in three decades. On Sunday, a Yeti Airlines plane carrying 68 passengers and four crew members crashed onto a cliff, broke apart, and caught fire as it approached Pokhara. Six children and 15 foreigners were among those on board, and it is suspected that they all died. Rescue workers have been working nearly nonstop to remove the dead bodies from the gorge, which is littered with twisted airplane seats and pieces of fuselage and wing. Police spokesman AK Chhetri told AFP that by early Tuesday, 70 bodies had been discovered. The previous day, a top official stated that there was "no chance" of discovering any survivors. "We retrieved one body last night. But it was three pieces. We are not sure whether it's three bodies or one body. It will be confirmed only after a DNA test," Chhetri said. He stated that the search for the two remaining bodies had been extended to a two to three-kilometre (one to two-mile) area and that drones were being deployed. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nepal plane tragedy: Hospitals return bodies of air crash victims to grieving families

Nepal's sad history of aviation disasters: A timeline of deadly plane crashes in the Himalayan nation

Anju Khatiwada, the co-pilot of Yeti Airlines plane that crashed in Nepal’s Pokhara, was seconds away from realising her dream of becoming a chief pilot. But her hopes and dreams never came to a realisation.

Minutes before landing at the Pokhara International Airport on Sunday, the ATR-72 plane carrying 72 people crashed at the forest land located on the banks of the Seti River, making it one of the worst air crashes in Nepal’s history. So far, the officials have recovered 68 bodies, while the rescue operations are on to retrieve the remaining ones.

The plane was piloted by senior Capitan Kamal KC and Anju was the co-pilot on the aircraft.

Anju joined Yeti Airlines in 2010 following the footsteps of her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, a pilot from the same airline who had died in a similar crash four years ago when a small passenger plane he was flying for the domestic carrier went down minutes before landing.

"Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, died in 2006 in a crash of a Twin Otter plane of Yeti Airlines in Jumla," airline spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula told Reuters news agency.

<h2>Nepal Plane Crash: Aircraft's black box found from debris</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-plane-crash-aircrafts-black-box-found-from-debris-553141/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"She got her pilot training with the money she got from the insurance after her husband's death," Bartaula said.

Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, was the co-pilot of fateful Yeti Airlines’ 9N AEQ aircraft which had crashed on June 21, 2006. Six passengers and four crew members had died in the deadly crash, Nepali Times newspaper reported.

It was on its way from Nepalganj to Jumla via Surkhet at that time.

Khatiwada, a pilot with more than 6,400 hours of flying time, earlier flown the popular tourist route from the capital, Kathmandu, to the country's second-largest city, Pokhara.

While the body of Kamal KC, the captain of the flight, has been recovered and identified, Kathiwada's remains are yet to be identified. However, she is feared dead, Bartaula said.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Anju Khatiwada, the co-pilot of Yeti Airlines plane that crashed in Nepal’s Pokhara, was seconds away from realising her dream of becoming a chief pilot. But her hopes and dreams never came to a realisation.

Anju Khatiwada, the co-pilot of Yeti Airlines plane that crashed in Nepal’s Pokhara, was seconds away from realising her dream of becoming a chief pilot. But her hopes and dreams never came to a realisation. Minutes before landing at the Pokhara International Airport on Sunday, the ATR-72 plane carrying 72 people crashed at the forest land located on the banks of the Seti River, making it one of the worst air crashes in Nepal’s history. So far, the officials have recovered 68 bodies, while the rescue operations are on to retrieve the remaining ones. The plane was piloted by senior Capitan Kamal KC and Anju was the co-pilot on the aircraft. Anju joined Yeti Airlines in 2010 following the footsteps of her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, a pilot from the same airline who had died in a similar crash four years ago when a small passenger plane he was flying for the domestic carrier went down minutes before landing. "Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, died in 2006 in a crash of a Twin Otter plane of Yeti Airlines in Jumla," airline spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula told Reuters news agency. Nepal Plane Crash: Aircraft's black box found from debris "She got her pilot training with the money she got from the insurance after her husband's death," Bartaula said. Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, was the co-pilot of fateful Yeti Airlines’ 9N AEQ aircraft which had crashed on June 21, 2006. Six passengers and four crew members had died in the deadly crash, Nepali Times newspaper reported. It was on its way from Nepalganj to Jumla via Surkhet at that time. Khatiwada, a pilot with more than 6,400 hours of flying time, earlier flown the popular tourist route from the capital, Kathmandu, to the country's second-largest city, Pokhara. While the body of Kamal KC, the captain of the flight, has been recovered and identified, Kathiwada's remains are yet to be identified. However, she is feared dead, Bartaula said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nepal plane crash: Deceased co-pilot’s husband also flew same airline, died in crash 16 years ago

Nepal plane crash 2023:&nbsp;At least 68 people were killed after a domestic flight of Yeti Airlines carrying 72 passengers crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before it was scheduled to land. The search and rescue operations by the country’s emergency personnel for the four people still missing began on Monday, while Nepal’s Army has said that they have not found anyone alive from the crash site in Pokhara.&nbsp;

The crash also marked the worst air disaster that the Himalayan nation has witnessed in the past three decades while Nepal continues to be one of the riskiest places to fly, as per multiple reports and the country’s poor flight safety record.&nbsp;The incident&nbsp;on Sunday was the deadliest in Nepal since the 1992&nbsp;Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 plane crash.&nbsp;

What happened in Pokhara?

As per reports, the flight had taken off from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and was headed to Pokhara, however, minutes before completing the 27-minute flight and landing at the Pokhara International Airport it broke and caught on fire which was later doused. According to plane tracking data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft was 15 years old and “equipped with an old transponder with unreliable data.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-mourns-crash-victims-as-rescuers-search-for-four-missing-passengers-and-the-black-box-552974">Search teams find black boxes of the crashed Nepal flight that killed 68</a>

However, while the exact cause of the crash remains unknown the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft’s black boxes which include a cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered and handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said a Yeti airlines spokesperson.&nbsp;

According to the CAAN, the Yeti Airlines plane made contact with Pokhara airport from Seti Gorge at 10:50 am (local time) and “then it crashed”. The 72 passengers on board included three children, three infants, and four crew members out of which 57 were Nepalis. While the 15 foreign nations included five Indians, four Russians, one Irish, two South Korean, one Australian, one French and one Argentinian national onboard as per media reports.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-plane-crash-pokhara-bound-flight-crashes-20-minutes-after-leaving-kathmandu-552879">Nepal Plane Crash: Pokhara bound flight crashes 20 minutes after leaving Kathmandu</a>

“I saw the plane trembling, moving left and right, and then suddenly it nosedived and it went into the gorge,” said Khum Bahadur Chhetri, a local resident to Reuters. While several previous crashes in Nepal have been attributed to the region’s sudden changes in weather which can contribute to hazardous flying conditions, on Sunday, they were reported to be clear. Therefore, there is no immediate indication of what caused the crash.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | A passenger aircraft crashed at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal today. 68 passengers and four crew members were onboard at the time of crash. Details awaited. <a href="https://t.co/DBDbTtTxNc">pic.twitter.com/DBDbTtTxNc</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1614510500121047040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The flight-tracking website, FlightRadar24 also said that the last signal from the transponder was received at 0512 GMT at an altitude of 2,875 feet above mean sea level while the Pokhara Airport is located at about 2,700 feet.&nbsp;Notably, the crash took place near the Nepalese city of Pokhara, a popular tourist destination and the starting point for the famous Annapurna Circuit Trek which attracts thousands of hikers every year.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-passenger-airplane-with-72-on-board-crashes-552768">Nepal’s worst air crash in 30 years: 68 killed as passenger plane with 72 onboard crashes near Pokhara</a>

Nepal’s reaction to the incident

After the incident, Nepal Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, said he was “deeply saddened by the sad and tragic accident.” Subsequently, he called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers and directed the country’s home ministry, security personnel and government agencies to carry out immediate search and rescue operations, on Sunday. Meanwhile, he monitored the rescue and salvage efforts from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.&nbsp;

Additionally, the Nepalese PM also ordered an investigation into the crash and a five-member panel has been set up for the inquiry. Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel told the press that the panel&nbsp;is expected to report within 45 days. The Himalayan nation is also observing a day of national mourning on Monday (January 16) for the victims of the crash.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-ground-report-nepal-government-mandates-technical-test-for-all-domestic-flights-553069">WION Ground Report: Nepal Government mandates technical test for all domestic flights</a>

The investigation by the government committee into the crash will also receive assistance from French authorities as the Yeti Airlines-operated twin-engine ATR 72 is manufactured by aerospace company ATR. “ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer,” said the France-based company, in a statement. Meanwhile, Yeti airlines have also cancelled all regular flights for Monday in “mourning for the passengers who lost their lives.”

The plane is said to have plummeted into a steep gorge and Army personnel used ropes and stretchers to retrieve bodies from the 300-metre-deep ravine. The search efforts were called off after dark on late Sunday, Army spokesman Krishna Prasad Bhandari said and was to resume the next day. According to Nepal Armed Police Force official, Shambhu Subedi, "the police, the&nbsp;armed police, the military and the Red Cross, all agencies are involved in the rescue and search operation”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-plane-crash-pokhara-international-airport-was-inaugurated-two-weeks-ago-built-with-chinese-assistance-552873">Nepal plane crash: Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated two weeks ago, built with Chinese assistance</a>

He added that all the dead bodies have been transferred to the hospitals and due to the “very difficult” terrain it has been tough to carry out search operations at the crash sites, reported AP.&nbsp;

What makes air travel in Nepal risky?

As mentioned earlier, Nepal has a long and unfortunate history of plane crashes which have been attributed to a number of reasons ranging from sudden weather changes and&nbsp;mountainous topography of the region to&nbsp;lax regulations, making the Himalayan nation one of the riskiest places to fly. Notably, Nepal is also home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/decoding-the-disasters-nepals-troubled-history-of-plane-crashes-552899">Decoding the disasters: Nepal's troubled history of plane crashes</a>

According to the data from Aviation Safety Network, the crash on Sunday not only marks the worst air disaster in the country in three decades but is also the third-worst aviation accident in Nepal’s history. Furthermore, the Himalayan nation has witnessed nearly 27 fatal plane crashes in the past 30 years out of which 20 have taken place in the last 10 years or so. A report by the country’s CAAN stated, “diversity of weather patterns together with hostile topography are the main challenges surrounding aircraft operations in Nepal due to which the number of accidents related to small aircraft….seems comparatively higher.”

The Himalayan nation has&nbsp;some of the most remote and tricky runways which even the most accomplished pilots face challenges navigating through. Additionally, aircraft operators have long said that the country lacks infrastructure for accurate weather forecasts, particularly in the remote mountainous regions where deadly plane crashes have taken place in the past.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-plan-crash-final-moments-of-yeti-plane-caught-on-camera-just-before-crash-553104">Nepal Plane Crash: Final moments of Yeti plane caught on camera just before crash</a>

In addition to the aforementioned reasons, poor maintenance of aircraft&nbsp;as well as insufficient training of pilots, have also contributed to the number of plane crashes that have taken place in Nepal. In 2013, the European Union banned all Nepal-based airlines from its airspace citing safety concerns and the country’s requests to remove some airlines from the blacklist were rejected again last year, as per media reports.

Some of the most recent plane crashes in Nepal&nbsp;

May 29, 2022: At least 22 people including 16 Nepalis, four Indians and two German nationals were killed after a De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter plane operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air crashed soon after taking off from Pokhara. Subsequently, the accident, in part, was attributed to poor weather conditions, as per a preliminary investigation carried out by CAAN.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/nepals-sad-history-of-aviation-disaster-a-timeline-of-deadly-plane-crashes-in-the-himalayan-nation-552885">Nepal's sad history of aviation disasters: A timeline of deadly plane crashes in the Himalayan nation</a>

April 14, 2019: At least three people were killed and four others were injured after a small plane veered off the runway while taking off near Mount Everest and hit a parked helicopter. The accident took place at an airport which is among the world’s most dangerous ones due to its short runway and difficult approach.&nbsp;

March 12, 2018: One of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country was witnessed on this day when 51 people were killed after a flight from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka crash-landed at Kathmandu airport after skidding into a football field where it burst into flames.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Nepal plane crash 2023: At least 68 people were killed after a domestic flight of Yeti Airlines carrying 72 passengers crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before it was scheduled to land.

Nepal plane crash 2023: At least 68 people were killed after a domestic flight of Yeti Airlines carrying 72 passengers crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before it was scheduled to land. The search and rescue operations by the country’s emergency personnel for the four people still missing began on Monday, while Nepal’s Army has said that they have not found anyone alive from the crash site in Pokhara. The crash also marked the worst air disaster that the Himalayan nation has witnessed in the past three decades while Nepal continues to be one of the riskiest places to fly, as per multiple reports and the country’s poor flight safety record. The incident on Sunday was the deadliest in Nepal since the 1992 Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 plane crash. What happened in Pokhara? As per reports, the flight had taken off from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and was headed to Pokhara, however, minutes before completing the 27-minute flight and landing at the Pokhara International Airport it broke and caught on fire which was later doused. According to plane tracking data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft was 15 years old and “equipped with an old transponder with unreliable data.” ALSO READ | Search teams find black boxes of the crashed Nepal flight that killed 68 However, while the exact cause of the crash remains unknown the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft’s black boxes which include a cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered and handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said a Yeti airlines spokesperson. According to the CAAN, the Yeti Airlines plane made contact with Pokhara airport from Seti Gorge at 10:50 am (local time) and “then it crashed”. The 72 passengers on board included three children, three infants, and four crew members out of which 57 were Nepalis. While the 15 foreign nations included five Indians, four Russians, one Irish, two South Korean, one Australian, one French and one Argentinian national onboard as per media reports. ALSO WATCH | Nepal Plane Crash: Pokhara bound flight crashes 20 minutes after leaving Kathmandu “I saw the plane trembling, moving left and right, and then suddenly it nosedived and it went into the gorge,” said Khum Bahadur Chhetri, a local resident to Reuters. While several previous crashes in Nepal have been attributed to the region’s sudden changes in weather which can contribute to hazardous flying conditions, on Sunday, they were reported to be clear. Therefore, there is no immediate indication of what caused the crash. #WATCH | A passenger aircraft crashed at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal today. 68 passengers and four crew members were onboard at the time of crash. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/DBDbTtTxNc — ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2023 × The flight-tracking website, FlightRadar24 also said that the last signal from the transponder was received at 0512 GMT at an altitude of 2,875 feet above mean sea level while the Pokhara Airport is located at about 2,700 feet. Notably, the crash took place near the Nepalese city of Pokhara, a popular tourist destination and the starting point for the famous Annapurna Circuit Trek which attracts thousands of hikers every year. ALSO READ | Nepal’s worst air crash in 30 years: 68 killed as passenger plane with 72 onboard crashes near Pokhara Nepal’s reaction to the incident After the incident, Nepal Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, said he was “deeply saddened by the sad and tragic accident.” Subsequently, he called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers and directed the country’s home ministry, security personnel and government agencies to carry out immediate search and rescue operations, on Sunday. Meanwhile, he monitored the rescue and salvage efforts from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Additionally, the Nepalese PM also ordered an investigation into the crash and a five-member panel has been set up for the inquiry. Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel told the press that the panel is expected to report within 45 days. The Himalayan nation is also observing a day of national mourning on Monday (January 16) for the victims of the crash. ALSO WATCH | WION Ground Report: Nepal Government mandates technical test for all domestic flights The investigation by the government committee into the crash will also receive assistance from French authorities as the Yeti Airlines-operated twin-engine ATR 72 is manufactured by aerospace company ATR. “ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer,” said the France-based company, in a statement. Meanwhile, Yeti airlines have also cancelled all regular flights for Monday in “mourning for the passengers who lost their lives.” The plane is said to have plummeted into a steep gorge and Army personnel used ropes and stretchers to retrieve bodies from the 300-metre-deep ravine. The search efforts were called off after dark on late Sunday, Army spokesman Krishna Prasad Bhandari said and was to resume the next day. According to Nepal Armed Police Force official, Shambhu Subedi, "the police, the armed police, the military and the Red Cross, all agencies are involved in the rescue and search operation”. ALSO READ | Nepal plane crash: Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated two weeks ago, built with Chinese assistance He added that all the dead bodies have been transferred to the hospitals and due to the “very difficult” terrain it has been tough to carry out search operations at the crash sites, reported AP. What makes air travel in Nepal risky? As mentioned earlier, Nepal has a long and unfortunate history of plane crashes which have been attributed to a number of reasons ranging from sudden weather changes and mountainous topography of the region to lax regulations, making the Himalayan nation one of the riskiest places to fly. Notably, Nepal is also home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest. ALSO WATCH | Decoding the disasters: Nepal's troubled history of plane crashes According to the data from Aviation Safety Network, the crash on Sunday not only marks the worst air disaster in the country in three decades but is also the third-worst aviation accident in Nepal’s history. Furthermore, the Himalayan nation has witnessed nearly 27 fatal plane crashes in the past 30 years out of which 20 have taken place in the last 10 years or so. A report by the country’s CAAN stated, “diversity of weather patterns together with hostile topography are the main challenges surrounding aircraft operations in Nepal due to which the number of accidents related to small aircraft….seems comparatively higher.” The Himalayan nation has some of the most remote and tricky runways which even the most accomplished pilots face challenges navigating through. Additionally, aircraft operators have long said that the country lacks infrastructure for accurate weather forecasts, particularly in the remote mountainous regions where deadly plane crashes have taken place in the past. ALSO WATCH | Nepal Plane Crash: Final moments of Yeti plane caught on camera just before crash In addition to the aforementioned reasons, poor maintenance of aircraft as well as insufficient training of pilots, have also contributed to the number of plane crashes that have taken place in Nepal. In 2013, the European Union banned all Nepal-based airlines from its airspace citing safety concerns and the country’s requests to remove some airlines from the blacklist were rejected again last year, as per media reports. Some of the most recent plane crashes in Nepal May 29, 2022: At least 22 people including 16 Nepalis, four Indians and two German nationals were killed after a De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter plane operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air crashed soon after taking off from Pokhara. Subsequently, the accident, in part, was attributed to poor weather conditions, as per a preliminary investigation carried out by CAAN. ALSO READ | Nepal's sad history of aviation disasters: A timeline of deadly plane crashes in the Himalayan nation April 14, 2019: At least three people were killed and four others were injured after a small plane veered off the runway while taking off near Mount Everest and hit a parked helicopter. The accident took place at an airport which is among the world’s most dangerous ones due to its short runway and difficult approach. March 12, 2018: One of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country was witnessed on this day when 51 people were killed after a flight from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka crash-landed at Kathmandu airport after skidding into a football field where it burst into flames. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: Nepal witnesses worst plane crash in 30 years. Why is air travel risky in the Himalayan nation?

At least 68 people were killed after a passenger airplane with 72 people on board crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15), making it the worst aviation disaster in the country in 30 years. As the war in Ukraine continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the "special military operation'' was showing a positive trend, adding that Russian soldiers will deliver more results after an attack on Soledar. In Afghanistan, the Taliban administration in Afghanistan said that overturning restrictions against women is not a priority- weeks after it passed two orders- banning university education for women and banning women from working for aid groups. 
&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-passenger-airplane-with-72-on-board-crashes-552768">Nepal’s worst air crash in 30 years: 68 killed as passenger plane with 72 onboard crashes near Pokhara</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/15/325682-nepal-crash-2.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

At least 68&nbsp;people were killed after a&nbsp;passenger airplane with 72 people on board&nbsp;crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before&nbsp;its scheduled landing, reported AFP. The officially declared death toll stands&nbsp;at 68 currently. It was a Yeti Airlines flight.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-showing-positive-trend-552863">Putin says special military operation in Ukraine showing positive trend</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/15/325704-untitled-design-2023-01-15t173806266.png?imwidth=1920" />

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a positive trend is visible in the special military operation in Ukraine and that the Russian soldiers will deliver more results after an attack on Soledar.&nbsp;Putin said, "The dynamic is positive. Everything is developing within the framework of the plan of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff. And I hope that our fighters will please us even more with the results of their combat."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-say-overturning-restrictions-against-afghan-women-not-a-priority-report-552865">Taliban say overturning restrictions against Afghan women, not a priority: Report</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/15/325705-000334x72l.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

After taking over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban imposed several restrictions on females including restricting their freedom of movement, barring girls from attending secondary schools, excluding women from most areas of the workforce and also banning them from using parks, gyms and public bath houses. Weeks back,&nbsp;the group passed two orders- banning university education for women and banning women from working for aid groups.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/africa/dr-congo-five-killed-15-injured-in-bombing-in-church-ugandan-militant-group-likely-behind-attack-report-552894">DR Congo | Five killed, 15 injured in bombing in church; Ugandan militant group likely behind attack: Report</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/15/325723-0009dl68n.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

A spokesperson of the army told the news agency Reuters the attack was likely carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)- a Ugandan militant group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in 2019.&nbsp;The ADF has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-president-yoon-reaches-uae-seeks-arm-sales-552839">South Korean President Yoon reaches UAE, seeks arm sales</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/15/325696-south-korea.png?imwidth=1920" />

Yoon's visit comes when South Korea engages in multibillion-dollar commercial transactions and stationing special forces soldiers to guard the UAE. It is a plan that garnered criticism under his liberal predecessor.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uks-nhs-and-genomics-england-to-use-using-genome-sequencing-to-identify-rare-diseases-in-babies-552835">UK's NHS and Genomics England to use genome sequencing to identify rare diseases in babies</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/15/325695-new-wion-20.png?imwidth=1920" />

Professor Matt Brown, the Chief Scientific Officer at Genomics England has predicted that very soon parents will be able to have it checked if their baby is at a higher risk of illnesses. He said that for this, parents could have their children’s genetic code read by the NHS.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-protest-in-israel-against-netanyahu-decries-government-of-shame-552831">Thousands protest in Israel against Netanyahu, decry ‘government of shame’</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/15/325692-untitled-design-2023-01-15t154810589.png?imwidth=1920" />

The Israeli media reported that the rally saw the participation of 80,000 people, quoting police sources. This is the biggest protest since the new government of Netanyahu came to power in Israel in late December.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/somalia-eight-killed-in-roadside-bombing-al-shabaab-claims-responsibility-552848">Somalia: Eight killed in roadside bombing, Al-Shabaab claims responsibility</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2018/09/11/47535-police%25252520line-20171225063414-20180126042056%25252520%2525281%252529-20180203074610_0.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

The blast occurred in Hiran district's Buloburde city. A local police commander Abdullahi Mohamud said the bomber detonated a car laden with explosives near an administrative building, a report by the news agency AFP said on Sunday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-record-odi-victory-rohit-and-company-defeat-sri-lanka-by-a-mammoth-317-runs-lankans-collapse-at-73-552909">India's record ODI victory: Rohit and company defeat Sri Lanka by a mammoth 317 runs, Lankans collapse at 73</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/11/10/309848-kohli-4000-runs-t20is.png?imwidth=1920" />

Team India secured a historic victory in the third and final match of their series against Sri Lanka, defeating the team by 317 runs in Thiruvananthapuram. This broke the previous record for the largest victory by runs in ODIs, which was held by New Zealand with a 290 run win against Ireland in 2008.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/folk-singer-nira-chhantyal-among-68-passengers-killed-in-tragic-nepal-plane-crash-552915">Folk singer Nira Chhantyal among 68 passengers killed in tragic Nepal plane crash</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/15/325737-untitled-design-2023-01-15t203710192.png?imwidth=1920" />

Nepal's folk singer Nira Chhantyal died along with 67 other passengers in the tragic plane crash that took place near Pokhara International Airport on Sunday.&nbsp;The sad news of her demise was confirmed by her sister Heera Chantyal Sherchan. Chhantyal was headed to Pokhara to attend an event which was being organised to mark the festival of Magh Sankranti.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

At least 68 people were killed after a passenger airplane with 72 people on board crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15), making it the worst aviation disaster in the country in 30 years.

At least 68 people were killed after a passenger airplane with 72 people on board crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15), making it the worst aviation disaster in the country in 30 years. As the war in Ukraine continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the "special military operation'' was showing a positive trend, adding that Russian soldiers will deliver more results after an attack on Soledar. In Afghanistan, the Taliban administration in Afghanistan said that overturning restrictions against women is not a priority- weeks after it passed two orders- banning university education for women and banning women from working for aid groups. Click on the headlines to read more: Nepal’s worst air crash in 30 years: 68 killed as passenger plane with 72 onboard crashes near Pokhara At least 68 people were killed after a passenger airplane with 72 people on board crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before its scheduled landing, reported AFP. The officially declared death toll stands at 68 currently. It was a Yeti Airlines flight. Putin says special military operation in Ukraine showing positive trend Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a positive trend is visible in the special military operation in Ukraine and that the Russian soldiers will deliver more results after an attack on Soledar. Putin said, "The dynamic is positive. Everything is developing within the framework of the plan of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff. And I hope that our fighters will please us even more with the results of their combat." Taliban say overturning restrictions against Afghan women, not a priority: Report After taking over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban imposed several restrictions on females including restricting their freedom of movement, barring girls from attending secondary schools, excluding women from most areas of the workforce and also banning them from using parks, gyms and public bath houses. Weeks back, the group passed two orders- banning university education for women and banning women from working for aid groups. DR Congo | Five killed, 15 injured in bombing in church; Ugandan militant group likely behind attack: Report A spokesperson of the army told the news agency Reuters the attack was likely carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)- a Ugandan militant group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in 2019. The ADF has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack. South Korean President Yoon reaches UAE, seeks arm sales Yoon's visit comes when South Korea engages in multibillion-dollar commercial transactions and stationing special forces soldiers to guard the UAE. It is a plan that garnered criticism under his liberal predecessor. UK's NHS and Genomics England to use genome sequencing to identify rare diseases in babies Professor Matt Brown, the Chief Scientific Officer at Genomics England has predicted that very soon parents will be able to have it checked if their baby is at a higher risk of illnesses. He said that for this, parents could have their children’s genetic code read by the NHS. Thousands protest in Israel against Netanyahu, decry ‘government of shame’ The Israeli media reported that the rally saw the participation of 80,000 people, quoting police sources. This is the biggest protest since the new government of Netanyahu came to power in Israel in late December. Somalia: Eight killed in roadside bombing, Al-Shabaab claims responsibility The blast occurred in Hiran district's Buloburde city. A local police commander Abdullahi Mohamud said the bomber detonated a car laden with explosives near an administrative building, a report by the news agency AFP said on Sunday. India's record ODI victory: Rohit and company defeat Sri Lanka by a mammoth 317 runs, Lankans collapse at 73 Team India secured a historic victory in the third and final match of their series against Sri Lanka, defeating the team by 317 runs in Thiruvananthapuram. This broke the previous record for the largest victory by runs in ODIs, which was held by New Zealand with a 290 run win against Ireland in 2008. Folk singer Nira Chhantyal among 68 passengers killed in tragic Nepal plane crash Nepal's folk singer Nira Chhantyal died along with 67 other passengers in the tragic plane crash that took place near Pokhara International Airport on Sunday. The sad news of her demise was confirmed by her sister Heera Chantyal Sherchan. Chhantyal was headed to Pokhara to attend an event which was being organised to mark the festival of Magh Sankranti.

Top 10 world news: Pokhara air crash Nepal's worst aviation disaster in three decades & more