Flight to Lukla

[SH]

Hey:

I am worried about the flight to Lukla. Anyone have any information that can ease my mind about the flight. It sounds a little nerve racking. Here is an article about a recent crash:



Yeti Airlines Twin Otter crashes



A Yeti Airlines Twin Otter has crashed in north east Nepal, reports said.

The cargo flight took off from Kathmandu for Lukla. It was reported missing at 1:56 pm, the TIA control room officials said.

Several army helicopters took part in the search and rescue mission and returned to the capital at 5:00 pm. They located the wreckage at the bottom of a cliff on the western side of Lamjura Pass.

Officials said the plane has broken into many pieces and only the wing portion is intact. "There is very negligible chance of any survivors," one army official said.

The plane was piloted by Captain Prakash Srivastav, co-pilot Robin Gurung and steward Nima Sherpa, initial reports said.

The cause of the crash is not known, but there was heavy cloud buildup over the 3,600 m Lamjura Pass which planes have to cross to get into Lukla. nepalnews.com rh/pd/dr May 25 04

[je‚„]

Yes there are crashes from time to time ... but you have to remember that there are probably about 5 to 20 flights a day and maybe 1 or 2 a year crash.

so if you do the maths it is still relatively safe(?)

I flew out only, and it was no problem at all!

[Dil Sapkota]

Well, there are several flights a day to Lukla. The plane crashed recently of Yeti airline may cause of late flight taken up because flight to mountain destination should only go in the morning but Yeti airline was taken up to Lukla about 2pm which was too late and the weather was already got bad so they could not have secure flight.


Dil Sapkota
Adventure GLacier Treks & Expedition
www.treks2nepal.com

[wayne]

I flew into Kathmandu from Lulka this morning - 28th - we had a one day delay due to fog and it was a bit cloudly close to KTM but very smooth. I use a trek company here who I just had lunch with. 3 flights took off within 10 minutes of each other on the 25th when the crash occurred - the pilot of the freight plane that was lost took a slightly different track to the other two and missed the pass. I had no concerns at all flying this morning. The other guys are right - passenger flights are invariably morning and its a unfortunate thing to say but maybe the event will cause a bit more caution if that was ever needed.

I have done the tirp in and out of Lulka 3 times in the past 14 months but never in the full monsoon season - its a personal decision to go or not but I have no reason to change my views with this event.