nepal plane crash updatePokhara International Airport, which witnessed the fatal crash of a Nepalese passenger plane with 72 people on board on Sunday (January 15), was inaugurated by Nepal’s newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ two weeks ago. And was built with Chinese assistance. ,
Built against the backdrop of the pristine Annapurna mountain range, the airport was officially inaugurated on January 1, 2023. The flagship project was part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation.
According to the Kathmandu Post newspaper, the Nepal government signed a $215.96 million soft loan agreement with China in March 2016 for the construction of the airport in this tourist hub. Last year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi handed over the Pokhara Regional International Airport to Sher Bahadur Deuba, the then Prime Minister of Nepal, during a courtesy call held at Baluwatar.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the airport, Prachanda said that air connectivity is the most effective means of connectivity for a landlocked country like Nepal.
He said, “With the opening of this airport, Pokhara’s connection with the international region has been established.”
Learn more about crash details,
While landing at Pokhara airport at around 11:00 am on Sunday, the Yeti Airlines plane crashed on the banks of the Seti river between the old airport and the new airport.
There were a total of 68 passengers and four crew members. There were five Indians among the passengers. The Himalayan Times newspaper reported that at least 32 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage site.
MyRepublica newspaper reported that according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the airplane had received permission to land.
“Weather was not a problem, initial information is that the plane crashed due to technical reasons. It is learned that flames were seen in the plane while it was still in the air,” said Gyanendra Bhul, information officer for CNN. The report said.
“The plane would have reached the runway in 10 seconds. However, it crashed midway,” the airport’s air traffic controller told Myrepublica newspaper. Accident.
(with inputs from agencies)
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