68 confirmed dead in Yeti Airlines plane crash

KATHMANDU, Jan 16: A total of 68 people have been confirmed dead in the plane crash on Sunday at Pokhara. The plane lost contact at 10:50 A.M., about 18 minutes after takeoff. There were five Indians, four Russians and two Koreans along with one passenger each from Ireland, Australia, Argentina and France, along with 53 Nepali passengers and 4 crew members on board the airplane. 

Three children and three infants were also on board, among which one infant has been confirmed dead. The deceased bodies are being transported back to Kathmandu for post mortem. Rescue operations have been halted temporarily due to the billowing smoke and the gorge being difficult to navigate at night. 

The ATR 72 model has had previous records of crashes as well, which can be  a cause of concern since Yeti Airlines holds six of the same ATR 72 aircraft.  ATR has released the following statement as a response to the accident, “Our first thoughts are with all the individuals affected by this. ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer.” Yeti Airlines has also canceled all flights on Monday, January 15^th, as a sign of mourning for the deceased passengers. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said, “I sincerely appeal to the security personnel, all agencies of the Nepal government and the general public to start an effective rescue,” regarding the crash, on Twitter. The general public is demanding an investigation regarding the cause of the crash. Pilots and aircraft accident investigators believe Mishandling, malfunctioning of aircraft system or pilot fatigue to be the cause, since the weather was clear during the crash. Since the aircraft has an old transponder, further data must be downloaded and analyzed to find the true cause of the accident. 

Name list of the passengers are:

Members of cabin crew

Kamal KC
Anju Khatiwada
Shreejana Hongchun
Oshin Ale Magar

Nepali Citizens

Kisan Acharya
Nishanta Acharya
Shaligram Acharya
Sadakat Alimiya
Purna Bahadur Gurung
Jitendra Bahadur Kunwar
Alina Bandro
Anisha Baniya
Slok Bhatta
Nira Chhantyal
Aashima Gurung
Anusha Gurung
Belman Gurung
Bijaya Kumar Gurung
Jiban Kala Gurung
Maya Gurung
Lucky Gurung
Shiva Kumar Gurung
Sita Gurung
Yamuna Gurung
Yasmin Gurung
Rabin Hamal
Sanjaya Jiasawal
Sonu Jaisawal
Rachana Kafle
Sita Kumari Khadka
Anil Kumar Rajbhar
Bhagawati Kunwar
Abishek Kushwaha
Om Maya Gurung
Susma Pandey
Hari Pariyar
Laxmi Pariyar
Rita Pariyar
Arun Paudel
Laxmi Paudel
Prasiddhi Paudel
Tribhuvan Paudel
Pojan Rana
Sabina Rayamajhi
Rajan Sapkota
Anil Shahi
Sangita Shahi
Jamuna Sharma
Bishal Sharma
Yubaraj Sharma
Mohan Shrestha
Dr Shona Diwakar
Bandana Sunsar
Rajusingh Thakuri
Churna Thapa
Ganesh Thapa
Lawaraj Timilsina
Krish Pariyar
Prasiddhi Paudel
Aayurdhi Sharma

Indian Citizens

Sanjay Jaiswal
Sonu Jaiswal
Anil Kumar Rajbhar
Abhisek Kushwaha
Vishal Sharma

Russian Citizens

Elena Banduro
Victoria Altunina
Iurii Lygin
Victor Lygin

Korean Citizens 

Kyungchul Yu
Sangyeon Yu

Ruan Callum Crighton (Irish citizen)
Alexandre Isidore (French citizen)
Myron Love (Australian citizen)
Jannatsandra Palavecino (Argentinian citizen)