Nepali authorities confirmed that all 22 passengers from a crashed aircraft in the Himalayas have been recovered, with identification efforts underway. The Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Deo Chandra Lal Karn stated, "All bodies have now been found," following the accident near Pokhara.
The twin-propeller Twin Otter plane lost contact with air traffic control shortly after departing Pokhara on Sunday bound for Jomsom, a trekking hub. Wreckage was discovered the next day on a mountainside at 14,500 feet (4,420 meters), with ten bodies airlifted to Kathmandu on Monday and 12 remaining at the remote site due to challenging weather conditions.
Victims Include International Tourists ¶
The aircraft, operated by Tara Air, carried four Indians, two Germans, and 16 Nepalis. Among the Nepali passengers was a computer engineer, his wife, and their two daughters returning from the United States. The Indian group included a divorced couple and their children, aged 15 and 22, on a family trip mandated by a court order for annual family time.
Aircraft History and Safety Concerns ¶
The de Havilland aircraft, which first flew over 40 years ago, is part of Tara Air, a Yeti Airlines subsidiary. The carrier previously experienced a fatal crash in 2016 on the same route. Nepal’s aviation sector faces ongoing safety challenges, including inadequate training and maintenance, leading the European Union to ban Nepali airlines from its airspace.
Historical incidents highlight the region’s risks. In 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines crash near Kathmandu killed 51, while a 1992 Pakistan International Airlines disaster claimed 167 lives. Nepal’s mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather further complicate flights, with treacherous runways and sudden climate changes posing persistent hazards.
