After the crash of a passenger plane with 72 people on board in Nepal, rescue teams found the flight recorders on Monday.

The authorities want to use the data from the so-called black box to find out more about the cause of the accident in the Himalayan state.

Till Fähnders

Political correspondent for Southeast Asia.

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At the same time, the rescuers have given up hope that any survivors could be rescued.

"We are praying for a miracle, but there is zero hope of finding anyone alive," a senior official told AFP.

So far, the rescue workers have found 68 bodies, four missing people are still being sought.

Sunday's crash was the deadliest plane crash in Nepal in 30 years and the third deadliest in the country's history, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft of the Nepalese airline Yeti Airlines crashed into a ravine on Sunday while approaching the tourist city of Pokhara.

The government in Kathmandu had declared Monday a day of national mourning.

Hundreds of rescue workers had previously searched the scene of the accident near the new Pokhara International Airport, which only opened on January 1 this year.

Live stream from inside the plane

A debris field with partially charred wreckage could be seen in pictures.

A mobile phone recording is said to show the plane on approach when it suddenly began to turn to the left.

Then a loud explosion was heard.

Another video circulating on social media is said to show the final seconds of the crashed flight from inside the plane.

The video is said to have been streamed live on the Internet by one of the Indian passengers on board.

According to a report by the British "Guardian", an Indian friend of the passengers has confirmed the authenticity of the video.

A local resident told the BBC the pilot appeared to have tried not to hit residential areas in the crash.

The plane hit a narrow space in the gorge through which the Seti River flows, about a kilometer from the airport.

According to local media, the plane initially wanted to fly to a different runway, but the tower was then asked to make a change.

Among the passengers were 53 Nepalese and 15 foreigners, including five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans and one passenger each from Argentina, Australia, France and Ireland.

Nepal's aviation sector has grown rapidly in recent years.

But many airlines have a bad reputation and are not licensed for European airspace.

The difficult terrain in the Himalayas and sudden changes in the weather make flying there a challenge even for experienced pilots.