The latest information mentions the airline’s pilot Yeti Airlines who fell in the gorge of Pokhara, Nepal, had requested a runway change before landing. The reason for the runway change is not clearly known, but the local Air Traffic Control (ATC) has granted it.
As reported ReutersTuesday (17/1/2023), the ATR-72 aircraft flying from Kathmandu fell into a ravine in Pokhara before landing amid sunny weather on Sunday (15/1). The cause of the crash of the plane carrying 72 people is still being investigated by the Nepalese authorities.
The latest information from Pokhara airport spokesperson, Anup Joshi, revealed on Monday (16/1) local time that a few minutes before taking position for landing, the pilot of the plane requested a runway change.
“Permission granted,” Joshi said in a statement.
“We didn’t ask (why), every time the pilot asked, we gave permission to change approach,” he said.
In further explanation, as quoted The Kathmandu Post and The Telegraph IndiaJoshi explained that the plane will initially land on Runway 30 at Pokhara airport.
“The weather is fine. We allocated Runway 30 which is on the east end. Everything is fine,” said Joshi.
But then the pilot captain, Kamal KC, who was the pilot instructor in command of the flight, requested permission to divert to Runway 12, which is at the western end of the Pokhara airport complex.
“We are not sure why. Clearance was granted, and because of that, the plane began its descent,” said Joshi, who is also a senior ATC operator.
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