Scary footage has surfaced online showing the moments just before the Yeti Airlines plane crashed in Nepal's Pokhara city, leaving all the 68 passengers on board dead.
One of the Indian passengers onboard the flight was live, showcasing the aircraft descending and enjoying the aerial view of the city. In particular, the video shows how unexpectedly the plane turns to crash on the ground, erupting into flames, and a thunder sound.
The passenger who was doing the livestream, identified as Sonu Jaiswal, died on the spot. However, his cellphone continued to capture the aircraft engulfed in fire.
What is Known About Yeti Air Plane Crash So Far
So far, rescuers have retrieved 68 bodies from the debris of the plane crash and the search for the remaining four is underway.
According to an airport official, there were 15 foreign nationals among the passengers, including five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, one Australian, one French, one Argentinian, and one person from Ireland.
The district administration official told the media that although the bodies of the deceased have been retrieved and taken to Gandaki Hospital in Pokhara for post-mortem, most of them were so badly burnt that they are beyond identification.
All the four deceased Indians passengers on board were from Uttar Pradesh state's Ghazipur district — identified as Abhisekh Kushwaha, 25, Vishal Sharma, 22, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, 27, Sonu Jaiswal, 35, and one Sanjay Jaiswal whose details are yet to be confirmed.
Uttar Pradesh State Chief Yogi Adityanath offered his condolences to the family of the deceased and directed officials to make all necessary arrangements to bring the mortal remains of the young men back home safely.
Calling it the worst domestic aviation disaster in three decades, Nepal's government is observing a one-day state mourning on Monday.
Nepal's government has formed a five-member investigation committee to look into the accident. It has also ordered all domestic airlines to check their planes before they take off.
Yeti Airlines’s 9N-ANC ATR-72 propeller plane took off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:33 am on Sunday for the newly inaugurated Pokhara international airport.
At 10:50 am, minutes before landing, the aircraft last contact with air traffic control and crashed on the banks of the Seti Gandaki River, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said.