Yeti Airlines: A history of air incidents, who is to blame?

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A Yeti Airlines plane, ANC ATR 72-500, crashed in Pokhara, western Nepal, at around 11 a.m. on Sunday. There were 68 passengers on board and four crew members, including 53 Nepali nationals, five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, one Irish, Argentine and French national. The plane, which was a short-haul twin-engine turboprop, was owned by Nepal’s second-largest domestic carrier, Yeti Airlines. The aircraft crashed into a hill and rolled over into the creek. Rescue operations are currently on a war footing as the damage is recorded and a full investigation begins.

This is not the first or even the second time that Yeti Airlines has been at the center of a tragedy. There have been reports suggesting the airline is using archaic technology that does not meet international standards.

May 29, 2022: Tara Air flight

In May last year, a Tara Air flight, which is a sister airline of Yeti Airlines, crashed, killing all 22 people on board. The small plane crashed near the hill of Nepals Lete. The 9N-AET Twin Otter aircraft was traveling from Pokhara to Jomson carrying four Indians, 13 Nepalese passengers, three Japanese nationals, two Germans, as well as three Nepalese crew members.

July 29, 2022: Yeti AT72 in Pokharam

A Yeti Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration 9N-ANG operating YT-672 from Pokhara to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 45 people on board, was leaving Pokhara when the left engine (PW127) failed. the crew to shut down the engine and return to Pokhara for a safe landing approximately six minutes after departure. The airport reported that the left engine failed immediately after the plane took off.

July 12, 2019: Yeti AT72 in Kathmandu

A Yeti Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration 9N-AMM operating flight YT-422 from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 66 passengers and three crew members, landed on Kathmandu runway 02 but veered off the track and came to a stop with all gears on soft ground. There were no injuries, the plane suffered minor damage. Air Traffic Control (ATC) announced that the airport was closed due to an aircraft skidding off the runway. The airline reported a runway excursion incident, all 66 passengers (64 adults, 2 infants) and three crew members remained uninjured. The airport reopened about eight hours after the crash.

September 1, 2018: Yeti JS41 in Kathmandu

A Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AHW operating flight YT-1424 from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu with 21 passengers and 3 crew, landed on the Kathmandu runway but veered left off the runway and crashed is stopped off the track. Five passengers were injured, the aircraft suffered significant damage (at least the nose gear collapsed). Tribhuvan Airport reported that 5 passengers were seriously injured and taken to hospital, the other passengers and crew were safe. The aircraft sustained damage to the undercarriage.

May 27, 2018: Yeti JS41 in Bharatpur

A Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AIH operating flight YT-175 from Bharatpur to Kathmandu in Nepal with 22 people on board, was in the initial climb from Bharatpur when one of the engines ingested a bird prompting the crew to return to Bharatpur for a safe landing. The plane was still on the ground at Bharatpur about 8 hours after landing.

March 18, 2018: Yeti JS41 in Bhairahawa

A Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AJC operating flight T3-893 from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa with 26 people on board, landed in Bhairahawa but malfunctioned on the runway due to a stuck wheel. The passengers had to disembark on the runway. Nepalese media report a locked front wheel.

October 8, 2008: Yeti Airlines DHC6 at Lukla

A Yeti Airlines de Havilland DHC6 Twin Otter, registration 9N-AFE operating scheduled flight 0Y-103 from Kathmanduto Lukla with 16 passengers and 3 crew, crashed on landing at Lukla Airport. The plane caught fire after hitting the airport fence and the ground just before and below the threshold of runway 06. The fire took two hours to extinguish, with the plane sliding 50 meters from the point of original impact. The flight took off from Kathmandu Airport with 12 German passengers, 2 Australian passengers and 2 Nepalese passengers. Only the captain survived with all the passengers as well as the co-pilot and the stewardess who died in the accident.

September 24, 2016: Yeti JS41 in Bhairawa

A Yeti Airlines Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AIB operating flight YT-893 from Kathmandu to Bhairawa with 29 passengers and three crew members, landed on runway 28 in Bhairawa but overshot the end of the runway and crashed came to rest in rough terrain about 350 feet past the end of the runway. There were no injuries although the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

August 20, 2015: Yeti JS41 in Bhairahawa

A Yeti Airlines Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AJC operating flight YT-894 from Bhairahawa to Kathmandu with 28 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Bhairahawa when the crew decided to abort the high speed takeoff due to a flock of birds on the track. The aircraft veered off the runway and came to rest safely off the runway. The passengers disembarked normally. The airline confirmed the runway excursion to grassy terrain during the aborted takeoff due to a flock of birds on the runway. All occupants are safe. The airline denied reports that the plane left the runway due to a burst tire, as widely reported in Nepalese media, or ran over a fence, as reported in the British press.

June 17, 2015: Yeti JS41 at Biratnagar

A Yeti Airlines Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AHY operating flight YT-792 from Biratnagar to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 27 passengers and 2 crew, had just taken off from Biratnagar when the left engine (TPE331) was struck by a bird. The aircraft continued to take off, climbed to a safe altitude and returned for a safe landing. A replacement plane ferried the passengers to Kathmandu.

June 21, 2015: Yeti JS41 in Dhangadhi

A Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AHW operating flight YT-426 from Dhangadhi to Kathmandu, Nepal with 9 passengers and 3 crew, was on the initial climb from Dhangadhi when the crew had to cut the left engine and returned to Dhangadhi for a safe landing about five minutes after departure.

Yeti Airlines is currently led by CEO Anoj Rimal, Executive Chairman Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa and Managing Director Chanda Sherpa.

Nepal, located in mountainous terrain, is home to the most dangerous airports on the planet. Airports are located at extremely high altitudes which test the ability of the best pilots. Lukla Airport in Nepal is touted as one of the most dangerous airports in the world and has been the site of major accidents in Nepal’s aviation history. Perched at 2,800m (9,200ft) on a tiny outcrop of relatively flat terrain, it is nestled among the tallest mountains in the world.

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