Australian Man Killed in Deadly Nepalese Plane Crash

A rescue team recovers the body of a victim from the site of the plane crash of a Yeti Airlines operated aircraft on Jan. 15, 2023, in Pokhara, Nepal, on Jan. 16, 2023. (Bijay Neupane/Reuters)

An Australian man has been identified among those who were killed in a fatal plane crash in Nepal.

Tributes are flowing for 29-year-old Myron William Love from Sydney, who’s a casual teacher from Bronte and an avid surfer, cyclist, photographer and traveller.

Nepalese airline Yeti Airlines plane crashed on Sunday en route to Pokhara, Nepal’s second-largest city from the capital Kathmandu, killing at least 68 people.

The cause for the crash remains unknown, with clear weather reported, but the plane’s black boxes have been located.

The accident is the nation’s deadliest since 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 crashed into a hillside, killing 167 people.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Monday confirmed that one Australian was among the 68 passengers and four crew members on board and it was “urgently seeking to confirm the welfare of the Australian.”

The family of Love described him as a rock who always lived life to the fullest, saying he “has put so much into his short life that most of us couldn’t fit into our lifetime.”

“We would like to express our deep gratitude for the amazing support shown to us by our family and friends in this time of need,” the family said in a statement.

The family requests outsiders to offer them “peace and privacy for us to grieve, and deal with this tragedy.”

Love’s friend said Love was “a truly kind, fun, energetic man we will forever love”.

“It is with extreme sadness to say we have lost one of the best humans I have ever known,” a Sydney-based artist lesjak_atton posted on Instagram.

“Myron was one of the loves of my life. I send all my love to those who need it right now.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday tweeted that the crash was “incredibly sad news.”

Two Bodies Yet To Be Recovered

The Nepalese authorities continued rescue efforts in Pokhara on Tuesday morning, with two bodies out of 72 people on board yet to be found. As of early Tuesday morning Australian time, 70 bodies from the plane had been identified.

“This is very tragic and my heart goes to all the victims and their families,” Nepal’s ambassador to Australia Kailash Pokharel told ABC Radio National.

A police official in Pokhara told Reuters rescue personnel were using ropes to descend into the gorge where parts of the plane fell and were in flames.

Flights were resuming to normal service across Nepal on Tuesday.

The fateful Yeti flight also carried other foreign passengers on board including five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and solo passengers from Argentina, the United Kingdom and France.

Nepal: One of The Most Dangerous Places To Fly

While the Himalayan nation is a favourite destination for adventurous tourists and mountaineers, its harsh weather, low visibility, and mountainous topography make flying riskier than in many other regions. Since 2000, almost 350 people have been killed in plane or helicopter accidents in Nepal.

Aviation Safety Network data showed that there had been 27 deadly plane crashes in Nepal within three decades, which equals almost one per year on average. A fatal crash took place in May last year when a plane by major Nepalese airline Tara Air from Pokhara was about to land in Jomsom, killing 22 people.

Australia’s Smartraveller website noted a number of small aeroplanes had crashed in recent years, especially in monsoon season, and warned travellers of aircraft safety concerns.

“Due to safety concerns, all airlines certified by Nepali regulatory authorities are banned from operating in Europe,” it noted.

AAP contributed to this article.