Her husband died in a plane crash 16 years ago, she met the same fate today

Kathmandu, 15 January (2023) - Anju Khatiwada was one of the two pilots in the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane that crashed in Pokhara Sunday.

She was flying the aircraft along with captain Kamal KC.

Khatiwada had lost her husband in a Yeti Airlines crash on 12 June 2006. Co-pilot Deepak Pokharel had lost his life along nine others at Jumla Airport.

Anju vowed to become a pilot and realize her husband's dreams after his death. Four years after the crash, she completed the piloting course in the US and returned to Nepal.  

She started her aviation career with ATR aircraft which is the biggest domestic plane that lands only at city airports. Her life came to an end on Sunday inside an ATR plane of Yeti Airlines.

Her husband Deepak Pokharel used to fly military helicopter and had later joined Yeti Airlines.

Sixteen years after her husband's death, she met the same fate.

One of her relatives said that it is a rare coincidence that both husband and wife were in the aviation field and both died in separate plane crashes.

Anju had completed her school education in Biratnagar. She went to India for higher studies.

Anju and Deepak have a 22-year old daughter.

She had married a businessman Subas KC of Kathmandu after becoming a pilot. Anju and Subas have a seven year old son.

Her relative said that they were sorrowful for both the orphaned children.