Crash

The airport is the main access to the Mount Everest region in Nepal, and is a notoriously difficult landing, with only 1,500 feet (460 m) of steeply sloped runway just 65 feet (20 m) wide and a steep approach path. Due to bad weather conditions and heavy fog, the pilot could not see anything but still tried to land. He came in too low and too far left, which caused the aircraft to crash into the mountain.

Eighteen of the dead were reported to be tourists. Twelve of the passengers on the flight were German and two Australian. The only survivor was Surendra Kunwar; the captain of the aircraft, who was dragged free from the wreckage shortly after the crash and was flown out to Kathmandu for emergency treatment.