Kathmandu, February 16
The preliminary report of the Yeti Airlines crash that took place on January 15 has been released.
The report prepared by the aircraft accident investigation commission (AAIC) states the aircraft did not have enough power due to the propellers being feathered. This might have been one reason for the Yeti Airlines crash.
The report also states the pilot wanted to land on Runway 12 despite being asked to land on Runway 30. Along with that, it also states Captain Kamal KC, who was the instructor pilot, took control of the aircraft from Anju Khatiwada around 14 seconds before the crash. The report states Khatiwada told KC there was no power in the aircraft.
Nagendra Ghimire, the coordinator of the commission, says the committee will only be able to be certain about what caused the crash when it prepares a final report.
“The detail report will examine things from the preliminary report and we will know what actually happened,” he says.
The report states TSIB Singapore, BEA France, TSB Canada, Pratt & Whitney Canada and EASA took part in the investigation.
Ghimire says the final report may take some time and the preliminary report was prepared to provide advice on interim safety recommendations and protective measures.
The crash near Pokhara’s new airport killed all 72 on board including four crew members.
Plane crashes in Nepal are very common. Not only domestic flights crash but also foreign ones killing hundreds of people. Nepal has also had several serious aviation disasters in recent years.
Over the last 30 years, there have been nearly 30 fatal plane crashes in Nepal, the most recent–before the Pokhara plane crash last month–being a Tara Air crash, in May 2022, killing 22 people on board.
