KATHMANDU, Nepal –
The wreckage of a plane lost in Nepal’s mountains was found scattered on a mountain slope on Monday, and it has been confirmed that 14 of the 22 people on board have died, the army said.
Rescuers found 14 bodies at the crash site, said Teknat Sitaula of Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. No survivors were reported and the search for the crash site continued.
Aerial photos of the crash site show parts of planes scattered on rocks and moss on the side of a mountain gorge.
The twin-turbocharged Twin Otter Tara Air lost contact with the airport tower on Sunday as it flew in an area of deep river gorges and mountain peaks in a 20-minute flight.
The army said the plane crashed in Sanosware in the Mustang district near the mountain town of Jomsom, where it was heading after taking off from the resort town of Pokhara, 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Kathmandu.
According to tracking data from flyradar24.com, the 43-year-old plane took off from Pokhara at 9:55 am (04:10 GMT) and transmitted its last signal at 10:07 am (04:22 GMT) at an altitude of 12,825 feet (3,900 meters).
There were four Indians and two Germans on the plane. The three crew members and other passengers are citizens of Nepal.
The destination of the plane is popular among foreign tourists who tour the mountain trails, as well as among Indian and Nepalese pilgrims who visit the revered Muktinath temple.
The Twin Otter, a rugged aircraft originally built by Canadian aircraft maker De Havilland, has been in operation in Nepal for about 50 years, during which it has been involved in about 21 accidents, according to aviationnepal.com.
The aircraft with a top-mounted wing and a fixed landing gear is valuable for its endurance and ability to take off and land on short runways.
Initially, the production of aircraft ended in the 80s of last century. Another Canadian company, Viking Air, returned the model to production in 2010.
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