In boost for probe, flight data, voice recorders retrieved from Nepal crash site

KATHMANDU — Searchers on Monday found both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from a passenger flight that crashed killing at least 69 people in Nepal's worst plane accident in 30 years, officials said.

The data on the recorders may help investigators determine what caused the Yeti Airlines ATR 72 aircraft, carrying 72 people, to crash in clear weather on Sunday just before landing in the tourist city of Pokhara.

Both recorders were in good shape and would be sent for analysis based on the recommendation of the manufacturer, Teknath Sitaula, an official at Kathmandu airport, said on Monday.

The cause was not yet known but a video on social media showed the aircraft banking suddenly and sharply to the left as it approached Pokhara airport. A loud explosion followed.

Soldiers used ropes and stretchers to retrieve bodies from the 300-meter-deep ravine late into the night, with recovery efforts continuing throughout Monday.

Officials said 69 bodies had been recovered so far, with autopsies on 24 ongoing. The plane was carrying 68 passengers and four crew when it went down.

"We pray for a miracle. But, the hope of finding anyone alive is nil," said senior local official Tek Bahadur KC.

Debris from the airliner was strewn across the crash site, including the mangled remains of passenger seats and the plane's white-colored fuselage.

Nepal observed a day of mourning on Monday for the victims.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that China felt deeply for Nepal as its traditional neighbor and sincere friend in this moment of sadness.

"We expressed deep condolences for the victims and extended sincere sympathies to all the bereaved families," Wang told reporters at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

The plane, on a scheduled flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, gateway to the scenic Annapurna mountain range, was carrying 57 Nepalis, five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and one person each from Argentina, Ireland, Australia and France.

"Incredibly sad news," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted. Indian premier Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences.

The ATR 72 was on a flight from the capital Kathmandu and hit the ground between Pokhara's brand-new international airport and the old domestic one shortly before 11:00 am local time on Sunday.

Aviation expert Greg Waldon said that, from the video shared on social media, it appeared the plane may have had a "wing stall", meaning one wing suddenly stopped providing lift.

"When you're at low altitude and you have an event like that … it's major trouble," said Waldon, Asia managing editor at industry publication FlightGlobal.

France-based manufacturer ATR said on Sunday that its "specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer".

Mo Jingxi in Beijing contributed to this story.

Agencies Via Xinhua