The Yeti Airlines plane crashed just before landing in the Nepalese city of Pokhara, the gateway to the hiking trails in the Himalayas, after a 27-minute journey from Kathmandu. At least 69 of the 72 passengers confirmed dead.
Weather conditions at the time of the crash were reported to be good, with a light wind, clear skies and temperatures well above freezing. Then, what might have caused the ATR 72 plane to crash? Here are some of the theories we cited from the Associated Press.
The theory of the plane experiencing a stall and human error
HP video footage from the ground shows the final moments before the plane crashed in a canyon, some 1.6 kilometers from the newly opened Pokhara International Airport. The nose of the plane looked high before the left wing suddenly dropped and the plane crashed. That indicates a possible stall, according to experienced Indian pilot Amit Singh.
Stall is a term in which the aircraft loses the power to lift. "The lift generated is not enough to support the plane in flight and the wings fall, the plane dives," he said.
Professor Ron Bartsch, a safety expert from Australia's Avlaw Aviation Consulting, said in the same vein that the plane may have stalled. "I think the plane experienced an aerodynamic stall. Possibly due to pilot error," he said.
Trouble on the plane
The ATR-72 aircraft that crashed was produced in the late 1980s by a French and Italian joint venture. Despite several fatal accidents, the ATR-72 generally has an excellent track record. Of course, it is possible that this plane is the culprit.
Flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders have been found at the crash site, but need careful analysis. "The human factor is an element that investigators look at to see if there was proper training or not. But usually planes don't just fall out of the sky, especially modern planes." said Bartsch.
It is possible that some kind of technical failure in the aircraft's instruments gave the pilot incorrect data. However, if the training is right, the pilot can still control it. "Pilots must be trained to deal with technical failures," he said.
A pilot who regularly flies ATR-72-500 aircraft from India to Nepal said the region's topography, with mountain peaks and narrow valleys, increases the risk of accidents and sometimes requires pilots to rely on sight rather than instruments.
The pilot, who did not wish to be identified, described the ATR-72-500 as an 'unforgiving aircraft' if the pilot is not highly skilled and familiar with the terrain and winds of the region.
Trouble at the airport or a bird strike
With 8 of the world's 14 highest mountains, Nepal has a history of air crashes. According to the Safety Matters Foundation, there have been 42 fatal plane crashes in Nepal since 1946. The rugged topography and varied weather are major challenges. In addition, reports say accidents are prone to occur at airports that have short runways, mostly due to pilot error.
The airport in Pokhara, a popular tourist destination as a gateway to the Annapurna mountains, is at an elevation of about 820 meters (2,700 feet). In the run-up to the opening of the airport two weeks ago, there were concerns that the number of birds in the area could make it even more dangerous.
If the plane suffers a bird strike while landing, it will likely prompt the pilot to abort the landing attempt, which can also cause a stall. "Turns are the one that pilots mishandle the most," Singh said.