Crew blamed for crash near Mount Everest in Nepal

Nepalese investigators probing a plane crash near Mount Everest have blamed the pilots for the accident that killed 18 people, a report said Thursday.

The report said the two pilots misjudged deteriorating weather conditions and flew inside a patch of fog while trying to land at Lukla airport, which is carved into the side of the Himalayas at an altitude of 9,200 feet (2,800 meters).

The DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter plane belonging to Yeti Airlines then hit a rock on the side of the runway and burst into flames on Oct. 8.

The investigators interviewed several eyewitnesses and visited the accident site in the foothills of Everest.

Of the 19 people on board the flight from Katmandu, only the captain survived the crash. Twelve Germans, two Australians and four Nepalese were killed.

The tiny Lukla airport is known for its dramatic scenery and a runway that ends in a steep drop of a few hundred feet (meters). It is an important jumping-off point for trekkers and mountaineers heading to Mount Everest.