New Delhi, Dec 29: On 15 January 2023, 72 passengers including two infants were killed in a Nepal plane crash that has been attributed to a critical error made by the pilots who mistakenly cut the power, according to findings from government-appointed investigators.
The ill-fated Yeti Airlines flight, en route from Kathmandu to Pokhara on January 15, met its tragic end due to a loss of thrust resulting in an “aerodynamic stall.” It is believed to be the deadliest aviation disaster in the country in the last three decades.
The ATR 72 aircraft, operated by the privately-owned Yeti Airlines, crashed just 1.5 km from its destination in the Seti River gorge.
News agencies reported quoting a member of the investigating panel that the pilots likely mispositioned the condition levers—responsible for controlling power—placing them in the feathering position instead of selecting the flap lever. This action caused the engines to run idle, resulting in a lack of thrust.
“Following the unintentional feathering of both engine propellers, the flight crew failed to identify the problem and take corrective actions despite the Crew Alerting Panel cautions,” stated the report.
The report identified several contributing factors to the tragedy, including a lack of appropriate technical and skill-based training, high workload and stress, and non-compliance with standard operating procedures.
Despite the grim outcome, the investigation confirmed that the aircraft had been properly maintained, exhibited no known defects, and that the cockpit crew had met the qualifications outlined by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
Over a dozen investigators from the US, Canada, France, and Singapore participated in the comprehensive probe. The crash spurred a large-scale rescue operation involving hundreds of Nepalese soldiers, with the aircraft flying for up to 49 seconds before impact due to its momentum.
The European Union has maintained a decade-long ban on Nepalese airlines from its airspace, citing safety concerns. Nepal’s challenging aviation landscape, characterized by remote runways and sudden weather changes, has made the region susceptible to aviation accidents. In a similar incident last May, Tara Air Flight 197, also owned by Yeti Airlines, crashed into a mountainside, resulting in the loss of 22 lives.