CNN
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The loss of a plane carrying 72 people in Nepal highlights the dangers of air travel in a country often called one of the most dangerous places in the world.
At least 68 people died in Sunday’s crash, making it the worst plane crash in the Himalayan country in 30 years. It was also his third most serious aviation accident in the country’s history, according to data from the Aviation Safety Network.
Bad weather, poor visibility and mountainous terrain all contribute to Nepal’s notorious reputation as a dangerous place to fly, experts say.
Sunday’s Yeti Air flight was 18 minutes into the flight before losing contact with the control tower in central Pokhara. The plane had nearly completed its short trip from the capital, Kathmandu, to Pokhara, Nepal’s second most populous city and the gateway to the Himalayas.
Flight operations aren’t just about fickle weather patterns.according to 2019 Safety Report The country’s “hostile terrain” is also part of the “enormous challenges” facing pilots, according to Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority.
With a population of 29 million people, Nepal is home to 8 of the 14 tallest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest. Its beautiful rugged landscape makes it a popular destination for trekkers.
However, the terrain can be difficult to navigate from the air, especially in bad weather, and is made worse by the need to use small aircraft to access the country’s more remote and mountainous areas. .
According to a Civil Aviation Administration report, these challenges make accidents more likely in aircraft with 19 or fewer seats.
The capital city of Kathmandu is Nepal’s main transit hub from which many of these smaller flights depart.
The airport in the town of Lukla in northeastern Nepal is often called the most dangerous airport in the world. Known as the gateway to Everest, the airport’s runway is laid out on a cliff between mountains, ending in a straight drop into the abyss.
Lack of investment in aging aircraft only increases flight risk.
In 2015, the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency, Prioritize support for Nepal Through Aviation Safety Implementation Support Partnerships. Two years later, ICAO and Nepal announced a partnership to resolve security concerns.
Although the country has improved its safety standards in recent years, challenges remain.
In 2016, a Tara Airlines flight crashed on the same route as the plane that went missing on Sunday. The incident involved his recently acquired Twin Otter aircraft flying in clear conditions.
In early 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Dhaka to Kathmandu crashed on landing and caught fire, killing 51 of the 71 people on board.
And in May 2022, a Tara Airlines flight with 22 people on board crashed into a mountain at an altitude of about 14,500 feet.