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

A Yeti Airlines plane, ANC ATR 72-500, crashed in Pokhara, western Nepal at around 11 am Sunday. re were 68 passengers on board and four crew members, including 53 Nepalese nationals, five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, one national from Ireland, Argentina and France.  aircraft, which was a short-haul twin-engine turboprop, belonged to Nepal’s second largest domestic carrier Yeti Airlines. plane crashed into a hill and rolled over into rivulet.. Rescue operations are currently on war footing as dam is registered and a full investigation commences.

This is t first or even second time that Yeti Airlines has been at centre of trdy. re have been reports suggesting that airline uses archaic techlogy t in line with 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. small plane crashed near Nepal’s Lete hill. 9N-AET Twin Otter aircraft was travelling from Pokhara to Jomson carrying four Indians, 13 Nepali passengers, three Japanese nationals, two Germans, along with three Nepalese crew members.

July 29, 2022: Yeti AT72 at Pokharam

A Yeti Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration 9N-ANG performing YT-672 from Pokhara to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 45 people on board, was climbing out of Pokhara when left hand engine (PW127) failed prompting crew to shut engine down and return to Pokhara for a safe landing about six minutes after departure. airport reported left hand engine failed immediately after aircraft was airborne.

July 12, 2019: Yeti AT72 at Kathmandu

A Yeti Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration 9N-AMM performing flight YT-422 from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 66 passengers and three crew members, landed on Kathmandu's runway 02 but veered right off runway and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground. re were injuries, aircraft suffered mir dam. Air Traffic Control (ATC) anunced airport was closed due to an aircraft skidded off runway. airline reported a runway excursion incident, all 66 passengers (64 ults, 2 infants) and three crew remained uninjured. airport reopened about eight hours after accident.

September 1, 2018: Yeti JS41 at Kathmandu

A Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AHW performing flight YT-1424 from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu with 21 passengers and 3 crew, landed on Kathmandu's runway but veered left off runway and came to a stop off runway. Five passengers were injured, aircraft sustained substantial dam (at least se gear collapsed). Tribhuvan Airport reported 5 passengers received serious injuries and were taken to a hospital, or passengers and crew were safe. aircraft suffered gear dam.

May 27, 2018: Yeti JS41 at Bharatpur

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

March 18, 2018: Yeti JS41 at Bhairahawa

A Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AJC performing flight T3-893 from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa with 26 people on board, landed in Bhairahawa but malfunctioned on runway due to a locked wheel. passengers h to disembark onto runway. Nepalese media report a se wheel locked up.

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 Kathmandu to Lukla with 16 passengers and 3 crew, crashed on landing at Lukla airport. aircraft burst into flames after hitting airport fence and ground just before and underneath threshold of runway 06. fire took two hours to extinguish, with plane sliding down 50 metres from original point of impact.  flight h taken off from Kathmandu Airport with 12 German passengers, 2 Australian passengers and 2 Nepalese passengers. Only captain survived with all passengers as well as first officer and stewardess having died in crash. 

September 24, 2016: Yeti JS41 at Bhairawa

A Yeti Airlines Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AIB performing flight YT-893 from Kathmandu to Bhairawa with 29 passengers and three crew members, landed on Bhairawa's runway 28 but overran end of runway and came to a stop on rough terrain about 350 feet past runway end. re were injuries although aircraft sustained substantial dam.

August 20, 2015: Yeti JS41 at Bhairahawa

A Yeti Airlines Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AJC performing flight YT-894 from Bhairahawa to Kathmandu with 28 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Bhairahawa when crew decided to reject takeoff at high speed due to a flock of birds on runway. aircraft veered off runway and came to a safe stop off runway. passengers disembarked rmally. airline confirmed runway excursion onto a grassy field during rejected takeoff due to a flock of birds on runway. All occupants are safe. airline denied reports that aircraft went off runway due to a burst tyre as widely reported in Nepalese media or broke through a fence as reported by press in UK.

June 17, 2015: Yeti JS41 at Biratnagar

A Yeti Airlines Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AHY performing flight YT-792 from Biratnagar to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 27 passengers and 2 crew, was just rotating for takeoff from Biratnagar when left hand engine (TPE331) was struck by a bird. aircraft continued takeoff, climbed to safe altitude and returned for a safe landing. A replacement aircraft delivered passengers to Kathmandu.

June 21, 2015: Yeti JS41 at Dhanghi

A Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41, registration 9N-AHW performing flight YT-426 from Dhanghi to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 9 passengers and 3 crew, was in initial climb out of Dhanghi when crew needed to shut left hand engine down and returned to Dhanghi for a safe landing about five minutes after departure. 

Founded by Sherpa brors - Sonam Sherpa and Ang Tendi Sherpa and late Ang Tshiring Sherpa who was airline’s MD, Yeti airlines is currently led by CEO Aj Rimal, Executive Chairman Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa and Managing Director Chanda Sherpa.

Nepal, located on a mountaineous terrain, hosts most dangerous airports in planet. airports are located at extremely high altitudes which test ability of best of pilots. Lukla airport in Nepal is touted as one of world’s most dangerous airports has been site for major crashes in Nepal’s aviation history. Perched at 2,800m (9,200 ft) on a tiny outcrop of relatively flat land, it is nestled amongst world’s tallest mountains.