People on board survive as plane crashes in NepalMay 16, 2013 - 13:24 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A plane crashed while trying to land at a mountain airstrip in northern Nepal early Thursday, May 16, and all 21 people on board, including eight Japanese tourists, survived with injuries, police said. Four of the injured were in critical condition, police officer Bhim Bahadur Chand said, according to The Associated Press. The state-owned Nepal Airlines plane was carrying eight Japanese tourists. The others on board, including three crew members, are all Nepali. The Canadian-built Twin Otter plane was trying to land at Jomsom airport, some 200 kilometers (125 miles) northwest of the capital, Katmandu, when it crashed on the banks of the Kaligandaki river. All of the injured were flown in different planes to the nearby city of Pokhara, where there are better-equipped hospitals. Police said the wheel of the plane touched the runway but that the aircraft veered toward the right and crashed on the banks of the Kaligandaki. The front portion of the plane was destroyed, but the rear part remained intact. The left wing remained submerged in the river. Rescuers were able to pull the injured passengers and crew from the plane. Civil aviation officials identified the Japanese passengers as Namba Hajime, Sato Setsuko, Terada Etsuko, Kawabe Sachiyo, Yazawa Yaeko, Yazawa Hiromi, Kawakami Hiroko and Abe Akiko. Other details about the Japanese passengers were not immediately known. The area is popular with foreign trekkers visiting the Mount Annapurna area and Hindu pilgrims visiting the revered Muktinath temple. Fifteen people were killed last May when a plane crashed while attempting to land at the same airport. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |