Nepal plane crash kills 18

[David N]

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/nepal...g-14-europeans

A small plane crashed in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal on Wednesday, killing 18 people including 14 European tourists, a Yeti airline official stated. A Twin Otter hit a runway fence killing all 14 passengers and four crew members. The Twin Otter used by Yeti Airline.
A small plane crash-landed at an airport in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal on Wednesday, killing 18 people including 14 European tourists, an airline official said. ‘‘We have information that the Twin Otter belonging to Yeti Airlines that left Kathmandu for Lukla in Sulukumbu district this morning hit the runway fence, killing 14 passengers and four crew members,’’ senior airline official Aunj Rimal told Kyodo News.
State-run Nepal television said 12 Germans and two Swiss nationals were among the dead in the crash at Lukla airport. The pilot survived the crash and was airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment, Rimal said. ‘‘We have been told that the weather was foggy, visibility was bad and the plane hit the runway fence at the airport while landing,’’ he said.

Lukla is one of my most favorite airports in the world, with it's one-way airstrip high in the mountains.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Yeti-...ada/1069210/L/


Edit:

TWO Australian tourists were reportedly among 18 people killed in a plane crash today near Mount Everest in Nepal, a Katmandu airport official said.

[Tony G]

Just heard on the news, there might have been 2x aussies on board.

[Alan Dent]

There is an article on Luckla airport in the latest edition of Airports of the World.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Very sad news for the family of the two Australians on board. My brother flew on the Yeti Airlines Twin Otter into Lukla last April on his way to Everest Base Camp.

This is the top of the runway where the short taixway opens out to a parking apron.


There is no overshoot option on this runway.


The Twin Otter, no registration, so not sure if it was this one.

[Adrian B]

Interesting strip..