There were a total of 72 people on the plane. The Yeti Airlines plane crashed near Pokhara, known to mountaineers and trekkers.
Nepalese authorities have confirmed that at least 29 people were killed. Earlier, the country’s aviation authorities estimated that at least 40 people died. The rescue work is still in progress.
The plane that crashed belonged to the Nepalese company Yeti Airlines. There were 68 passengers and four crew members on board.
The accident happened between the old and new airports of Pokhara in central Nepal. The plane was on its way from the capital Kathmandu to Pokhara.
According to the airline, there were several foreigners on the plane, including from India, Russia, France and Australia. Apparently, there were no Finns involved.
– Rescue operations are underway, says a representative of the Nepal Aviation Authority Jagannath Niroula.
The plane caught fire on impact, local authority Gurudutta Dhakal tells.
Hundreds of rescue workers have gone to the accident site, news agencies say.
The cause of the accident is not yet known. According to the authorities, the weather was clear at the time of the accident.
There have been several plane crashes in the mountains of Nepal in the past
It is the deadliest plane crash in Nepal since 2018. At that time, the US-Bangla Airlines plane that left Dhaka, Bangladesh, crashed in Kathmandu. 51 people died.
Flying conditions can often be difficult in Nepal, located in the Himalayan mountains.
In May last year, 16 Nepalis, four Indians and two Germans were killed when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Pokhara.
In addition to Kathmandu and Pokhara, accidents have also occurred in the Kalikot region in the central west of the country.
The news is updated
Sources: Reuters, AFP, AP