A DHC-6 Twin Otter operated by Yeti Airlines has crashed at Lukla, Nepal. The accident destroyed the aircraft, and killed 16 passengers and two crew members. The captain was the only survivor.According to news release issued by Yeti Airlines, the accident occurred on the morning of October 8, 2008 as the aircraft (registration 9N-AFE) was attempting to land at Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla, in eastern Nepal, after a scheduled passenger flight from Kathmandu. Although the cause of the crash is unknown at this time, the carrier's media release said that "the entire Airport region was suddenly covered with fog."
Yeti Airlines has identified the crew members on Yeti Flight 0Y-103 as "Capt. Surendra Kunwar, Co-pilot Bikash Pant and Air Hostess Sunita Shrestha." The captain, who was the only survivor, was rescued and admitted to the Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj. The airline reports that he is "out of danger."
The names of the passengers who perished on Yeti Flight 0Y-103 has been posted on the airline's website.
Condolences to the families, colleagues and friends of those who were lost in this accident. Best wishes to the Captain for a full and speedy recovery.
[Photo Source]
UPDATE Jan. 2, 2009: The Reuters news agency is reporting that the investigation of the Yeti Airlines accident in Nepal has cited pilot error as the cause.
"The crew made incorrect judgment of the deteriorating weather and flew into a patch of cloud causing the accident," the investigation report said.
