Visible explainer: World’s most harmful place to fly? Nepal aircraft crash places highlight on nation’s poor air security file
By , , and Printed January 7, 2023
Nepal’s poor air security file took one other hit on January 15, 2023 when a Yeti Airways twin-engine ATR 72-500 plane crashed because it was approaching Pokhara Worldwide Airport within the Himalayan foothills, killing all 72 folks on board. The crash was one of many worst within the historical past of Nepal, residence to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, together with Mount Everest. The nation has seen dozens of crashes in current many years, partially resulting from tough terrain, sudden climate adjustments and ageing planes.
Last moments of Yeti Airways flight YT691
The crash occurred about 1.6km (1 mile) from the runway of the brand new China-built airport within the resort city of Pokhara. Flight YT691 was travelling from the capital Kathmandu – a few 27-minute journey – when its nostril tilted down in direction of its left, earlier than plummeting right into a gorge. It was honest climate and there was no misery name from the cockpit. Black packing containers recovered from the wreckage had been despatched to Singapore for evaluation.
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Aircraft crash web site
Emergency employees used drones to scour the hillside the place the Yeti Airways flight went down. Ropes had been used to tug our bodies from the wreckage, components of which had been hanging over the sting of the Seti River gorge.
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The aircraft was carrying 68 passengers, together with 15 international nationals, in addition to 4 crew members. The foreigners included 5 Indians, 4 Russians, two South Koreans, and one every from Eire, Australia, Argentina and France.
The ATR 72-500
The aircraft that crashed was 15 years outdated. The ATR 72 plane has been utilized by a number of airways around the globe for brief regional flights and is manufactured by a three way partnership of Airbus and Italy’s Leonardo. Yeti Airways has a fleet of six ATR 72-500 planes. This plane mannequin has been concerned in a number of lethal accidents. In 2018, an ATR 72 operated by Iran’s Aseman Airways crashed in a foggy mountainous area, killing all 65 aboard.
Whereas it’s nonetheless not confirmed what triggered the crash, a Nepal media report in January mentioned the pilots might have failed to totally deploy the plane’s wing flaps earlier than touchdown, resulting in a stall. Some aviation specialists famous {that a} passenger’s video confirmed wing flaps on the left aspect prolonged to about 15 levels, not 30 levels.
Perform of the flaps beneath regular circumstances
Flaps of flight YT691 earlier than touchdown
Grim file
Nepal has suffered 42 deadly aircraft crashes since 1946, in response to the Flight Security Basis’s Aviation Security database. Earlier than the January 15 Yeti Airways crash, the final main air accident occurred on Might 29, 2022, when all 22 folks on board a Tara Air aircraft crashed within the mountainous Mustang district. In 2016, 23 folks had been killed when a aircraft from the identical airline on the identical route crashed after take-off.
When issues go mistaken
Take-off and touchdown are statistically extra harmful than different components of flight. Analysis by Boeing reveals that greater than half of all deadly accidents occur within the final a part of the journey.
Nepal air crashes since 1946
Funding in Nepal’s aviation sector
Nepal’s aviation trade has boomed in recent times, as extra planes carried items and other people between hard-to-reach areas, together with international vacationers. However the aviation sector has been tormented by poor security resulting from inadequate coaching and upkeep, in addition to an absence of excellent tools and amenities to deal with the nation’s 20 native carriers. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority mentioned Pokhara Worldwide Airport’s instrument touchdown system wouldn’t be working till February 26 – eight weeks after the airport started operations on January 1.
Nepal air arrivals
Since 1960, Nepal has been a part of the United Nations Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO), which means it should adjust to worldwide conventions, laws, requirements and security practices. However Nepal’s poor aviation file had hindered its makes an attempt to fulfill worldwide requirements. The European Union has banned all Nepali airways from its airspace over security issues.
EU Air Security Listing
The EU Air Security Listing comprises two lists. One consists of all airways banned from working in Europe as a result of they don’t meet worldwide security requirements. The opposite consists of airways which are restricted from working beneath sure circumstances in Europe.
International locations with airways banned by the EU
Nepalese airways banned by the EU
Air Dynasty Heli Service, Altitude Air, Buddha Air, Fishtail Air, Summit Air, Heli Everest, Himalaya Airways, Kailash Helicopter Providers, Makalu Air, Manang Air Pvt, Mountain Helicopters, Prabhu Helicopters, Nepal Airways Company, Saurya Airways, Shree Airways, Simrik Air, Simrik Airways, Sita Air, Tara Air and Yeti Airways
Affiliate Inventive Director Marcelo Duhalde
Edited by Andrew London
Further internet improvement Han Huang
Sources: Aviation Security Community, Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO), The EU Air Security Listing by the European Fee, The Kathmandu Put up, Reuters, dpa, Related Press, Ministry of Tradition, Tourism & Civil Aviation of Nepal, localnepaltoday.com
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