Nepal continues to probe plane crash that killed 14 people, searches for black boxes

Nepal searches for black boxes after plane crash

KATMANDU, Nepal — Nepalese investigators hoping to find the cause of a small plane crash last week that killed 14 people, including six foreigners, offered a reward Monday for help in finding the aircraft’s “black box” recorders.

Investigators still have been unable to locate the voice and data recorders nearly a week after the Aug. 24 crash near Shikharpur village, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Katmandu.

The private Agni Air flight was heading to the Mount Everest region when it crashed in heavy rain outside Nepal’s capital, killing all 14 people aboard, including four Americans a Briton and a Japanese.

Suresh Acharya, a spokesman for the government appointed investigation team, said investigators distributed photos of such devices among villagers and offered a reward of 50,000 Nepalese rupees ($675) for anyone who finds them.

Investigators at the crash site, whose work has been complicated by continuing monsoon rainfall, collected pieces of the German-built Dornier turboprop plane.

The crash created a crater that has filled with 10 feet (3 meters) of water.