Yeti Crash Eye witnesses say: “First ever dreadful incident in life”

An octogenarian Babar Jung Gurung said he had never witnessed such dreadful incident in life- the plane crash in the Seti Gorge near his home earlier today.

“I was enjoying sunbath in my yard this morning. A plane suddenly drew close above my house from the northern side. Tilting and swinging, the plane crashed near a bamboo thicket, smashing into the Seti Gorge,” it is what 87-year-old Gurung from Syaldule located in 100 meters distance of the Pokhara International Airport said.

After the plane hit the surface, thick smoke emanated and covered entire settlement. After a while, security persons- army and police- arrived. “I and my family are saved. Still, we’re fearing that the fire may break anytime again. Later, the fire was extinguished,” he remembered.

The broken parts of the plane can be seen on both sides of the Seti Gorge, while some plunged into the ravine. However, most of the dead bodies were covered from ravine. Very few dead passengers were picked from the site over the ravine- near the bamboo thicket.

The Yeti Aeroplane with the call sign 9 N-ANC had flown from Kathmandu to Pokhara International Airport, but crashed in the Seti Gorge, just some minutes before landing. There were 68 passengers and four crew members.

Another eye witness from Nayagaon, Bishnu Hari Sapkota, said, “In the beginning we thought the plane was heading to the old airport via the Kahundanda in the northern side, but it suddenly tilted and dropped while taking route to the new airport, finally crashing in the Seti Ravine. When reached the accident site, there was already a huge fume.”

Moreover, another local Priti Gurung said throughout Sunday, the stench of human burn was emanating from the accident site. “Locals could not go into the ravine for rescue. So, Nepal Army and Police Persons had to be waited for it. Although they doused the fire, passengers were burning in to the gorge.”

She assumed that the pilot might have saved the settlement by plunging the craft into the ravine.

Manisha Pariyar, another local, said after the plane crashed the locals had no option but to inform and wait for the security. “Some even reached the site with buckets of water, but it was just a drop in the fire! Gradually, fire engines, ambulance, and police came which made us hope that some passengers could be save, but in vain.”

As of this evening, 68 dead bodies were recovered from accident site, according to Chief of District Police Office, Ajay KC.

The Yeti aircraft was landing in the Pokhara International Airport, first time after demo flight. Senior captain Kamal KC was flying the plane.

There were 53 Nepali, five Indian, four Russian, one Irish, Australian, Argentinean, and French each, and two Korean passengers aboard.

Similarly, the crew members were Kamal KC, Anju Khatiwada, Srijana Hongchun and Osin Alemagar.

Those mobilized in rescue operation said it was difficult to speed up rescue due to difficult topography.