The crash that claimed the lives of 72 individuals, including a talented British ballet dancer, was the result of a pilot mistakenly pulling the wrong levers, according to an official inquiry.
Ruan Crighton, 34, was on a trip from Kathmandu to Pokhara International Airport in the Himalayan foothills when the aircraft plunged into a ravine in Nepal in January 2023.
The aircraft was carrying 68 travelers, including 15 foreigners, and four crew members.
Observers later recounted seeing the twin-engine propeller ATR-72 plane 'banking sharply' before 'sinking rapidly' towards the ground around a mile from the runway.
During an inquiry into Mr Crighton’s death at London North Coroner’s Court in Barnet, it was revealed that one of the pilots accidentally adjusted the propeller angle instead of the wing flaps.
Feathering, the technical term for aligning the angle of the propeller blades parallel, is typically only done in an emergency when an engine has failed, as indicated by an expert at the inquiry.
Mr Crighton, a student of physiotherapy, had been residing in Nepal with his French girlfriend while undertaking a placement at a spinal injury clinic in Kathmandu, as detailed in the inquiry.
The day following his birthday, the 'beloved' dancer was taking a 'well-deserved trip into the mountains' when the tragedy occurred.
During the inquest, Mr Crighton’s family expressed that he would be 'missed beyond words'.
'It became evident from an early age that Ruan was gifted,' the tribute said of Mr Crighton, who competed in gymnastics at a national level before training as a ballet dancer from the age of 14.
‘We are all beyond heartbroken by this terrible tragedy. We are so proud of what he achieved.
‘He was witty, charming, quick and so generous. He was adored by all who met him.
‘We couldn’t wait to see him and learn all about his latest adventures.’
The Yeti Airlines aircraft had been operating shuttle flights and was on its third trip of the day when the tragedy occurred, the inquest heard.
The pilots 'sustained a loss of control' and eyewitnesses at Pokhara International Airport noticed it was flying at a low altitude before it fell from the sky.
Mr Crighton, from Brentwood, Essex, suffered fatal blunt force injuries during the crash, North London area coroner Tony Murphy said.
Concluding the inquest, Mr Murphy said the dancer had died ‘as a consequence of an aircraft accident’.
‘He was an exceptional person and is much missed by his family and friends,’ he added.
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