Nine feared dead in Nepal plane crash

At least nine people died when a plane carrying 21 people crashed while trying to land at a mountain airstrip in Nepal’s northern Himalayas today.

Four survivors in a critical condition were flown by helicopter to the nearby city of Pokhara for treatment, said Laxmi Raj Sharma, chief government administrator in the area.

Rescuers recovered at least nine bodies from the wreckage site, he said.

The plane crashed while trying to land at Jomsom Airport, a gateway to a popular tourist and trekking destination about 125 miles north west of the capital Katmandu.

The Dornier aircraft belonged to the local Agri Air company. Police official Nareswor Aryal said 16 of the passengers were Indian and two were Westerners.

The wrecked aircraft was in pieces but did not catch fire.