Govt extends Yeti Airlines crash probe deadline by 45 days

KATHMANDU, March 15: The government has extended the commission formed to investigate the Yeti Airlines plane crash in Pokhara's deadline by 45 days. Rekha Sharma, Government Spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Information Technology stated that the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening extended the commission's deadline by 45 days.

A Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu crashed in Pokhara on January 15, killing all 72 people on board. On the same day, the government formed a 5-member accident investigation commission, including aviation experts, under the coordination of former secretary Nagendra Ghimire. The commission was initially given 45 days.

The commission stated in its preliminary report on February 15 that 14 seconds before the crash, instructor pilot Kamal KC took over control from pilot Anju Khatiwada. Rekha Sharma, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, stated that the deadline has been extended because the investigation commission has yet to complete its work.