Nepal's Government Denies Yeti Airlines' Accident: PM Dahal Condolences, Monday So Holidays For Honoraryness

Fleet ATR-72 Yeti Airlines aircraft. (Wikimedia Commons/TMLN123)

JAKARTA - The Nepalese government expresses its deep sorrow for the victims of the Yeti Airlines plane crash, taking the necessary steps related to the investigation of the crash, while Monday's flight schedule was canceled.

Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held an emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council, following Yeti Airlines' ATR-72 aircraft crash in Pokhara, reported The Kathmandu Post January 16

PM Dahal said he was "deeply saddened by the sad and tragic accident".

"I sincerely appeal to security personnel, all Nepalese government agencies, and the general public to make effective rescues," he tweeted.

To investigate the accident, a committee of five members has also been formed to examine the cause of the accident. Nepal's Deputy PM and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said the committee should submit reports to the government within 45 days.

In honor of the victims, a prime minister's spokesman said the Nepalese government announced Monday as a public holiday.

Meanwhile, airline Yeti Airlines said it had canceled all of its regular flights for Monday. in order to "reversate for passengers who have lost their lives," as quoted by Reuters.

As previously reported, at least 68 people died on Sunday when domestic flight Yeti Airlines crashed in Pokhara in Nepal, the worst air accident in three decades in the small Himalayan country.

Citing the Aviation 24, the Yeti Airlines fleet that crashed was an ATR 72-500 aircraft with registration number 9N-ANC with flight number YT601 between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The plane flew from the capital Kathmandu to Pokhara, the country's second most populous city and a gateway to the Himalayan, state media reported The Rising Nepal. Pokahara is located about 129 kilometers west of Kathmandu.

The last plane came into contact with Pokhara airport at around 10:50 a.m. local time, about 18 minutes after liftoff. It then descended at nearby Ngarai Sungai Seti. The first respondents from the Nepalese Army and various police departments have been deployed to the crash site and are conducting rescue operations, civil aviation authorities said in a statement.