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Passenger plane crashes in Nepal, there are survivors

In terms of casualties, the crash could be the largest in the country since 1992

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. An ATR 72 short-haul passenger plane carrying 72 people crashed on Sunday in Nepal. According to the latest reports, there are survivors, although it was previously reported that all passengers and crew members died.

In terms of casualties, the crash could be the largest in the country since 1992. TASS has gathered the main information on the incident.

Circumstances of accident

- The Yeti Airlines airplane flying from Kathmandu crashed near Pokhara city in central Nepal.

- The reasons for the accident have not yet been officially announced.

- Eyewitnesses told the Online Khabar news portal that the pilot directed the aicraft towards the Seti River gorge, preventing the plane from falling on the settlement where a large Ramghat market is located.

Casualties and survivors

- There were 68 passengers and four crew members aboard the airliner.

- Local authorities said there were "several survivors," though it had been previously reported that all the people on board were dead. A source at Pokhara airport told TASS that two Nepalese citizens were taken to hospital in extremely serious condition.

- In addition, local authorities reported the discovery of 29 bodies of the dead.

- According to the latest information, 15 foreigners, including citizens of Russia, Australia, Argentina, India, Ireland, France and South Korea were on the crashed plane.

- Russian envoy to Nepal Alexey Novikov confirmed to TASS the death of four Russians who were on the plane.

Authorities’ reactions

- Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal called an emergency cabinet meeting in connection with the crash. The meeting decided to set up a commission to investigate the crash.

- The Nepalese government declared January 16 as a day of mourning.

- The airport in Pokhara was closed until the end of the day.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram of condolence to his Nepalese counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari. He asked him to convey "words of sincere sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims of this terrible plane crash".

Scale of incident

- In terms of casualties, the ATR 72 crash was the world's largest since March 21, 2022, when a Boeing 737-800 plane crash in southern China killed 132 people.

- It is also the largest plane crash in Nepal since September 8, 1992. Then an Airbus A300 passenger plane crashed into a mountain south of Kathmandu, killing 167 people.

- This is the first ATR 72 crash in five years, since February 18, 2018, when a plane of this type crashed in Iran. The death toll then reached 66.

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