1674086127 2 American citizens killed in plane crash in Nepal

2 American citizens killed in plane crash in Nepal

Two US citizens and two permanent US citizens were killed in the plane crash in Nepal earlier this week, State Department spokesman Ned Price said during a briefing on Wednesday.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic Yeti Airlines crash over the weekend that killed 72 people, including two US citizens and two lawful permanent residents,” Price said. “Our thoughts are with the families of those on board.”

“The United States stands ready to support Nepal in any way we can at this difficult hour,” Price added.

Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to Pokhara crashed near Pokhara International Airport on Sunday. All 72 people, including 68 passengers and four crew members, died when it plunged into a 300-meter-deep gorge. There were three children and three small children on the flight.

The original list of nationalities of passengers on board the aircraft did not mention Americans. Of the 68 passengers on board the twin-engine plane, 15 were Nepalese, according to a flight list released by the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority on Sunday. Officials said the remaining passengers were from India, Russia, South Korea, Ireland, Australia, Argentina and France.

PHOTO: French investigators inspect the wreckage of a passenger plane at the crash site in Pokhara, Nepal on January 18, 2023.

French investigators inspect the wreckage of a passenger plane at the crash site in Pokhara, Nepal on January 18, 2023.

Yunish Gurung/AP

The plane’s two black boxes — the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder — were both recovered Monday. The data recorder will be sent to France for analysis, authorities said.

Authorities have not said what they believe doomed the airliner.

Monday was declared a national day of mourning in the country.

ABC News’ Britt Clennett and Kevin Shalvey contributed to this report.