Two Women From Utah Identified By US State Department

Officials have confirmed that two Americans were among 19 people who died in Sunday's crash of a Beech 1900D turboprop during a sightseeing flight just south of Katmandu in Nepal. The two, both women from Utah, were identified as 49-year-old Leuzi Cardoso and 40-year-old Heather Finch.

The plane was operated by Buddha Air, and was carrying 13 foreign tourists, three Nepalese, and three crewmembers on a flight to look at mountains including Mt. Everest. Eight of the highest peaks in the world are located in Nepal, which depends on related tourism for four percent of its economy. According to MSNBC, those who cannot hike the rugged hilly trails to the mountains use such mountain flights to see the Himalayas.

MSNBC notes there was another accident in Nepal in December last year, when a Twin Otter hit the Himalayan foothills of remote east Nepal, killing all 22 people onboard. Weather around the time of the latest accident Sunday morning included fog and rain. On Sunday, on her Facebook page, Finch posted, "Sitting at the airport waiting to see if our flight will leave. Has to be perfectly clear to take off. May have to try again in the morning."

FMI: www.buddhaair.com