Nepal
air crash probe begins
5:30 AM Sunday Sep 30, 2012
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| The Sita Air crash scene near Kathmandu. Photo / AP |
Police have handed
over to accident investigators the black box data recorder of a plane that
crashed on the outskirts of the Nepalese capital, killing all 19 people on
board.
The twin-propeller
Sita Air plane had just taken off from Kathmandu and was headed to Lukla,
gateway to Mt Everest, when it plunged into the banks of a river near the
city's airport around daybreak.
Among the dead were
seven Britons, five Chinese and seven local passengers and crew.
National police
spokesman Binod Singh said it had been difficult to identify the bodies and DNA
tests may be carried out before they are returned to relatives.
The British group, the
youngest of whom was 27 and the oldest 60, had been due to go on a 16-day trek
to three high passes and the Everest Base Camp.
Although the exact
cause of the crash is still unclear, the manager of Tribhuvan International
Airport in Kathmandu said the pilot had reported hitting a bird of prey, thought
to be a vulture or kite, moments before the crash . . . .
More in the NZ Herald
Peter’s Piece
Nepal has an
abysmal air safety record with six crashes that killed 96 people in the last
two years.
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| Whatever your mode of transport in Nepal, it will be dangerous. |
Meanwhile,
road safety in Nepal is no better and terrorism is also a major threat.
Tourism in
Nepal has declined sharply due to safety concerns and the inability of the
Nepalese government and people to turn the situation around.
Only
backpackers and adventurers come away from Nepal pleased with their experience.
Opinions were not obtained from those who died during the experience.
According to David
Millward, Transport Editor for the Telegraph, poor training and weak regulation has
added to the danger faced by air passengers in a country whose mountainous
environment would be challenging for the most skilled pilots.
On the roads many bus and truck drivers
are unlicensed and vehicles are frequently overloaded.
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