In a tragic incident on January 15, 2023, a Yeti Airlines aircraft crashed in Pokhara, Nepal, claiming the lives of 72 passengers, including 5 Indian travelers.
After an exhaustive eight-month investigation, the probe commission assigned to examine the crash submitted its report, unequivocally attributing the cause of the crash to human error.
The Investigation Commission formed after the air crash submitted the report with the conclusion the ATR-72 plane of Yeti Airlines crashed in Pokhara on 15 January 2023 was due to human error.
The Commission formed under coordination of former Secretary Nagendra Prasad Ghimire submitted the report to the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati. It took eight months and three days for the Commission to carry out the investigation and prepare the report.
The government had formed a five-member probe commission on the day of the plane crash. Retired captain of the Nepali Army, Deepak Prakash Bastola, retired Captain Sunil Thapa, aeronautical engineer Ekraj Jung Thapa and Joint-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane were the members of the probe commission.
Receiving the report, Minister Kirati directed the subordinate bodies to strictly implement the Probe Commission’s suggestions.
A total of 72 passengers including 5 Indians had died after the aircraft crashed into the Seti gorge while landing in the newly built Pokhara international airport.
Sweta Singh(Kathmandu)