Commission on Yeti Airlines crash at Lukla submits report Press Release

Commission on Yeti Airlines crash at Lukla submits report Press Release
January 1, 2009

The Commission constituted by Government of Nepal for the Aircraft Accident Investigation of Yeti Airlines Flight YT-101 which crashed in Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla on October 8, 2008 submitted its report to Hon'ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami on December 31, 2008. The Twin-otter aircraft belonged to Yeti Airlines was crashed at the perimeter of Lukla runway while attempting to land in deteriorating weather condition which killed 18-people including 14 Germans and 2 Australians tourists.

According to Commission report, "The probable primary cause was flight crew's misjudgment, based on the weather information from all the proceeding aircraft and Lukla Information, to enter into cloud patch on final wherein the aircraft encountered the rapidly uplifting fog on short final resulting on Control Flight Into Terrain(CFIT)." The formal investigation commenced on 10th October, 2008 following a meeting of the Commission. Experts were nominated by Germany and Australia(States of Victims).

On November 7, 2008, a record breaking 100 flights were made from Kathmandu to Lukla Tenzing Hillary Airport, according to Tribhuwan International Airport Authority. This new record is the for the first time in the aviation history and also marks the great flow of tourists in the Everest region this year compared to any other years by air.