'Kind' and 'fun' teacher named as one of 72 feared dead in Nepal plane crash

16 January 2023 , 11:55

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Australian teacher Myron Love is feared dead

A teacher has been named as one of the 72 people feared dead after a plane crashed in Nepal at the weekend.

Australian Myron Love, 29, had been travelling through Asia when he boarded the ATR 72 Yeti airlines flight in Kathmandu on Sunday.

There were 72 people on board when the plane crashed seconds before landing at the airport of Pokhara, in what has been described as Nepal's worst air disaster in 30 years.

The plane caught fire when it crashed and emergency workers tried to put it out. So far, at least 68 people have been confirmed dead and four people are unaccounted for.

Mr Love, from Sydney, has been described by his friend James Lesjak-Atton as "a truly kind, fun, energetic man".

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Rescuers inspect the wreckage of the plane (AFP via Getty Images)

He wrote on Instagram: "It is with extreme sadness to say we have lost one of the best humans I have ever known.

"Myron was one of the loves of my life. A truly kind, fun, energetic man. We will forever love you my man."

Another friend, Sam Smith, told Australian TV channel 9News that he had "never met a more genuine bloke in my life".

Woman cries as the body of a relative is brought to a hospital in Pokhara (Yunish Gurung/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

The man's family is yet to comment and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) today said it was "urgently seeking to confirm the welfare of the Australian" on board.

According to an airport official, the pilot of the flight did not report "anything untoward" as the plane approached Pokhara.

Anup Joshi said the "mountains were clear and visibility was good", adding there was a light wind and "no issue with weather".

Mr Joshi added the pilot asked for a change from the assigned runway 3 to runway 1, which was granted by the airport.

Yeti Airlines ATR 72 aircraft at Pokhara Airport (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)

The Pokhara airport spokesman said: "We could operate from the both runways. The plane was cleared for landing."

A distressing video published on social media shows the moment the plane lost control seconds before it crashed.

The low-flying plane ATR-72 twin engine turboprop plane was seen on the video lurching to the right and apparently overturning as it hit the ground.

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The footage filmed from a terrace included the noise of the moment of impact after the aircraft came down behind the building.

Chiara Fiorillo