Breaking: Plane Crash Near Mt. Everest Kills 18

News is breaking out of Nepal today that a plane has crashed at the Lhukla airport-killing 18 passengers onboard.  The Lhukla airport lies just 40 miles from Mt. Everest and is the major entry and exit airport for those trekking to, or planning on climbing, the world’s tallest peak. 

The Yeti Airlines Dehavilland DH-6 Twin Otter airplane had taken off from Kathmandu and was preparing to make a landing when a wheel from the landing gear came down on a security fence, forcing the plane to crash.  Sixteen tourists from Australia, Germany, and Nepal were killed in the accident, along with two crew members.  The pilot did survive.

To read more about this tragic accident at the Lhukla airport, head over to AOL news.  At this time, the names of those killed have not been released pending family notification.