KATHMANDU, Sept 25: All 19 persons including six Nepalis onboard the flight of a Buddha Air plane (9N-AEK 1900D ) that crashed at Kotdanda of Lalitpur Sunday morning have been killed.
Those killed in the crash include 10 Indians, two US nationals, one Japanese, three Nepalis along with three Nepali crew members, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said. [break]
The Indian nationals killed in the crash are Pankaj Mehta, who worked for the UN in Kathmandu, his wife Chaya Mehta, and eight builders from Tamil Nadu, identified as K Thiyagarajan, RM Meenatchi Sundaram, Kattoov Mahalingam, D Hanasekaran, MV Maruthachalam, AK Krishnan, VM Kankasabesan and M Maniraran.
The other three foreigners killed in the crash are Uejima Toshinori of Japan, Andrew Wade and Natalie Neinan of the US.
The Nepali casualties include Niranjan Karmacharya, Sarada Karmacharya and Jagajan Karmacharya, all of whom are believed to be from Jawalakhel, Lalitpur and from the same family.
Thirty-six-year-old Niranjan was rescued alive but succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to B & B Hospital, Gwarko, for treatment.
Captain JB Tamrakar, Captain Padma Adhikari and Air Hostess Asmita Shrestha were the crew members.
The cause of the crash is believed to be adverse weather conditions.
The aircraft, which had lost its communication at 7:30 this morning with the traffic control room at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, crashed while returning from a mountain flight.
All the bodies of the eighteen dead have been airlifted to TIA in a Nepal Army helicopter and sent to Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, for autopsy.
Probe panel formed
Meanwhile, the CAAN has formed a three-member team, headed by former CAAN director general Rajeshraj Dali to investigate the crash.
The wreckage of the Buddha Air plane at the crashed site in Lamatar, Lalitpur.
Black box of Buddha Air plane found
The black box of the Buddha Air aircraft that was crashed in Kotdanda of Lalitpur district this morning has been found.
The flight recorder was found after a four-hour long search around the accident site. Security persons have kept the box safe to investigate about the cause of the aircraft’s crash. [break]
Related story
Buddha Air retires ATR-42 aircraft after 16 years of service
-1200x560-1773818828.webp)
-1773673205.webp)
