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| Nepal air crash: UK investigators head to Kathmandu | Nepal air crash: UK investigators head to Kathmandu |
| (6 months later) | |
| Air accident investigators from the UK are heading to Nepal to investigate the plane crash that killed seven Britons on Friday. | Air accident investigators from the UK are heading to Nepal to investigate the plane crash that killed seven Britons on Friday. |
| The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it was sending two staff to Kathmandu to assist local authorities looking into the accident, which killed all 19 passengers shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu airport. | The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it was sending two staff to Kathmandu to assist local authorities looking into the accident, which killed all 19 passengers shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu airport. |
| The Britons, who were on a trekking holiday, were among those killed after the twin-engine propeller Dornier plane crashed in a field. | The Britons, who were on a trekking holiday, were among those killed after the twin-engine propeller Dornier plane crashed in a field. |
| Initial reports suggested the plane had possibly hit a large bird but pilot error or a malfunction are now being investigated. Ratish Chandra Suman, an official from Tribhuvan international airport, said the pilot had reported trouble two minutes after takeoff and appeared to have been trying to turn back to the airport. | Initial reports suggested the plane had possibly hit a large bird but pilot error or a malfunction are now being investigated. Ratish Chandra Suman, an official from Tribhuvan international airport, said the pilot had reported trouble two minutes after takeoff and appeared to have been trying to turn back to the airport. |
| The plane crashed on the bank of the Manohara river at 6.18am on Friday in clear weather and witnesses said the plane was already on fire before it hit the ground. | The plane crashed on the bank of the Manohara river at 6.18am on Friday in clear weather and witnesses said the plane was already on fire before it hit the ground. |
| Tributes were paid to the group of Britons, who included the lawyer Ben Ogden, 27, from Buckingham, an Oxford University graduate who worked for the international law firm Allen & Overy. He was on the Everest Base Camp trip to celebrate just having qualified. The firm said the young lawyer, who lived in London, "had an incredibly promising career ahead of him". | Tributes were paid to the group of Britons, who included the lawyer Ben Ogden, 27, from Buckingham, an Oxford University graduate who worked for the international law firm Allen & Overy. He was on the Everest Base Camp trip to celebrate just having qualified. The firm said the young lawyer, who lived in London, "had an incredibly promising career ahead of him". |
| The Britons, named by the local travel company Sherpa Adventures, also included Timothy Oakes, 57, a married father and secondary school adviser for Lancashire county council. He loved mountaineering and was on the trip of a lifetime with an old school friend, his distraught wife, Angie Gaunt, said at the family home in Winwick, Cheshire. She added: "He was going because he always wanted to see Everest. If you love the mountains, it is the ultimate." | The Britons, named by the local travel company Sherpa Adventures, also included Timothy Oakes, 57, a married father and secondary school adviser for Lancashire county council. He loved mountaineering and was on the trip of a lifetime with an old school friend, his distraught wife, Angie Gaunt, said at the family home in Winwick, Cheshire. She added: "He was going because he always wanted to see Everest. If you love the mountains, it is the ultimate." |
| His travelling companion was Stephen Holding, 60, a retired teacher from the village of Barlaston, Staffordshire, who was also a keen mountaineer, according to Keith Finney, brother of his wife, Maggie. | His travelling companion was Stephen Holding, 60, a retired teacher from the village of Barlaston, Staffordshire, who was also a keen mountaineer, according to Keith Finney, brother of his wife, Maggie. |
| "My sister just wants to say Stephen had gone out on a trip of a lifetime. He had been planning the trip for 18 months and was with a lifetime friend," he said. | "My sister just wants to say Stephen had gone out on a trip of a lifetime. He had been planning the trip for 18 months and was with a lifetime friend," he said. |
| Another victim, Raymond Eagle, 58, a keen fell runner, from Macclesfield, who lived alone, worked for Cheshire East council as a support worker for disabled people. His neighbour Pauline Girdwood said he was very active and ran every day. "This was the sort of thing he did. He did go trekking, he was a fell runner and very, very active in outdoor activities." | Another victim, Raymond Eagle, 58, a keen fell runner, from Macclesfield, who lived alone, worked for Cheshire East council as a support worker for disabled people. His neighbour Pauline Girdwood said he was very active and ran every day. "This was the sort of thing he did. He did go trekking, he was a fell runner and very, very active in outdoor activities." |
| Vincent Kelly, 50, and his brother Darren, 45, were also part of the group, who arrived in Nepal on Wednesday and were due to begin a three-week trek in the Khumbu region around Mount Everest on Friday. | Vincent Kelly, 50, and his brother Darren, 45, were also part of the group, who arrived in Nepal on Wednesday and were due to begin a three-week trek in the Khumbu region around Mount Everest on Friday. |
| Darren Kelly, a property developer and businessman living in the Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway, was originally from Bolton but had moved to the village in recent years, where he renovated property for holiday lets. The vice-chairman of a local diving club, he was described by residents as a "first-class guy" who was active in the community. The club's treasurer, Chris Harrison said: "He'll be a great loss to the club but mostly to his wife and family. He was a dynamic and enthusiastic person." | Darren Kelly, a property developer and businessman living in the Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway, was originally from Bolton but had moved to the village in recent years, where he renovated property for holiday lets. The vice-chairman of a local diving club, he was described by residents as a "first-class guy" who was active in the community. The club's treasurer, Chris Harrison said: "He'll be a great loss to the club but mostly to his wife and family. He was a dynamic and enthusiastic person." |
| Vincent Kelly, a company director of Lostock, Bolton, was a "most prolific" and "well respected" supporter of Bolton Lads & Girls Club – raising funds to replace its Astroturf by cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End – said the club in a statement. "There aren't enough words to describe just how wonderful Vincent was – a dedicated family man with a generous heart of gold who was a perfect role model for all," said Mark Brocklehurst, a member of the club's board. | Vincent Kelly, a company director of Lostock, Bolton, was a "most prolific" and "well respected" supporter of Bolton Lads & Girls Club – raising funds to replace its Astroturf by cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End – said the club in a statement. "There aren't enough words to describe just how wonderful Vincent was – a dedicated family man with a generous heart of gold who was a perfect role model for all," said Mark Brocklehurst, a member of the club's board. |
| The seventh Briton to die was named as Christopher Davey, 51, believed to be from Northampton. | The seventh Briton to die was named as Christopher Davey, 51, believed to be from Northampton. |
| The group were travelling with the Hampshire-based company Explore Worldwide, which said in a statement it was "devastated by this news". | The group were travelling with the Hampshire-based company Explore Worldwide, which said in a statement it was "devastated by this news". |
| All those on board the plane, operated by the domestic airline Sita Air and bound for Lukla, died | All those on board the plane, operated by the domestic airline Sita Air and bound for Lukla, died |
| The victims included five tourists believed to be from China, four Nepalese passengers, including Explore's local tour guide, and the crew. | The victims included five tourists believed to be from China, four Nepalese passengers, including Explore's local tour guide, and the crew. |
| Aviation accidents involving small aircraft are not uncommon in mountainous Nepal. In September 2011, 19 people including 16 tourists were killed when a Buddha Air flight crashed on a similar route. | Aviation accidents involving small aircraft are not uncommon in mountainous Nepal. In September 2011, 19 people including 16 tourists were killed when a Buddha Air flight crashed on a similar route. |
| In August 2010, 14 passengers including four Americans, a Briton and a Japanese national were killed after a plane heading to the Everest region crashed as a result of bad weather. In December 2010, all 22 passengers were killed when another plane came down. | In August 2010, 14 passengers including four Americans, a Briton and a Japanese national were killed after a plane heading to the Everest region crashed as a result of bad weather. In December 2010, all 22 passengers were killed when another plane came down. |
| • This article was amended on 1 October 2012. The original referred to a "Dorier plane". This has been corrected to say Dornier plane. | • This article was amended on 1 October 2012. The original referred to a "Dorier plane". This has been corrected to say Dornier plane. |
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