US-Bangla plane crash: Nepalese team starts investigation

A six-member inquiry team of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal today started investigation into the US-Bangla plane crash that left 51 people dead.

The investigation team, headed by Yagya Prasad Gautam, former director general at the CAAN, started their investigation this morning, Raj Kumar Chhetri, general manager of the Tribhuvan International Airport, told The Daily Star over phone this afternoon.

The investigation team also recovered a data recorder from the scene which will help the investigators to find out fact behind the accident, the TIA official said.

Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), state run news agency of Nepal quoting its home ministry has reported that 22 Nepalis, 28 Bangladeshis and a Chinese passenger have lost their lives in the accident —the third deadliest aviation accident involving an international carrier.

The 78-seater US-Bangla Airlines Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft crashed while landing Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu around 2:18pm yesterday leaving 49 people dead. Two more passengers succumbed to their injuries at a hospital in Kathmandu today.