Crew blamed for fatal crash near Everest

Nepalese investigators probing a plane crash near Mount Everest have blamed the pilots for the accident that killed 18 people.

Today’s report said the two pilots misjudged deteriorating weather conditions and flew inside a patch of fog while trying to land at Lukla airport, which is carved into the side of the Himalayas at an altitude of 9,200 feet.

The DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter plane belonging to Yeti Airlines then hit a rock on the side of the runway and burst into flames on October 8.

The investigators interviewed several eyewitnesses and visited the accident site in the foothills of Everest.

Of the 19 people on board the flight from Katmandu, only the captain survived the crash.