Nepal mourns plane crash deaths as hopes of finding survivors fade

KATHMANDU, Nepal

Nepal observed a day of mourning on Monday for the victims of the nation's deadliest aviation disaster in three decades, with 68 people confirmed killed in the plane crash and hopes of finding survivors described as "nil".

The Yeti Airlines ATR 72 plummeted into a steep gorge, smashed into pieces and burst into flames with 72 people on board as it approached the central city of Pokhara on Sunday, police said.

Soldiers used ropes and stretchers to retrieve bodies from the 300-metre (1,000-foot) deep ravine, resuming their search on Monday after fog forced a pause in rescue efforts.

"We have collected 68 bodies so far. We are searching for four more bodies... We pray for a miracle. But, the hope of finding anyone alive is nil," said Tek Bahadur KC, chief district officer in Taksi.

Searchers on Monday found both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, officials said, saying the black boxes were in good condition.

Debris from the twin-engine turboprop airliner was strewn across the crash site, including the mangled remains of its wings and passenger seats.

Rescue workers were rushed there after the crash, and tried to put out the raging fires that were sending thick black smoke into the sky.

There were 15 foreigners on board, including five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and one passenger each from Argentina, Australia, France and Ireland, Yeti spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula told AFP.

The rest were Nepalis.

It was unclear if anyone on the ground was injured.

"ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer."