8 killed in plane crash in Nepal

Kathmandu, Oct 8 (PTI) Eighteen people, mostly foreign trekkers to the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest were killed when a small Nepalese private airliner crashed early Wednesday morning at Lukla in Northeastern Nepal.

The twin engined Otter aircraft of the Yeti airlines
hit the airport boundary fence while approaching for landing
in bad weather conditions at 7.35 am (local time), according
to state run Nepal TV.

The aircraft was carrying 19 people including 3 crew
members.

While 18 were killed on the spot, the pilot of the
ill-fated aircraft Captain Surendra Kunwar survived, but was
stated to be in critical condition at the TU Teaching Hospital
were he was rushed.

The plane was carrying as many as 14 foreign tourists
and 4 Nepalese. These included 12 Germans and 2 Australians.

The Kathmandu-Lukla flight is more popularly known as
Everest flight as it ferries tourists who want to see Mount
Everest from close or to take part in treks around its base
camp.

The aircraft burst into flames after crash landing on
the sloping airstrip, eye-witnesses reported.

Security staff and local people took two hours to
put-off the fire in the wreckage of the aircraft. Hundreds of
foreign tourists and residents also helped in salvage
operation.

Officials at the airport said that bad weather was the
reason for the crash. The area was completely covered by
clouds when the accident occurred.

The flight from Kathmandu to the Lukla airstrip named
after the Everest heroes Tenzing-Hillary is the gateway to the
Everest region used by thousands of trekkers and mountaineers.

The Everest base-camp-trek were tourist fly into Lukla
and trek around for weeks - is one of the most popular routes.
PTI CORR