Anju Khatiwada, a co-pilot on the plane that crashed in Nepal and left at least 69 people dead over the weekend, decided to pursue flying as a career after her husband, who was a pilot, died in a 2006 plane crash.

Khatiwada, 44, is now feared dead after Yeti Airlines flight 691 came down around 10:50 a.m. local time Sunday, perReuters.

“Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, died in 2006 in a crash of a Twin Otter plane of Yeti Airlines in Jumla,” airline spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula told the outlet. “She got her pilot training with the money she got from the insurance after her husband’s death.”

Speaking with CNN, Bartaula said that Khatiwada, who joined Yeti Airlines in 2010,received training in the United Statesand had over 6,300 hours of flying experience. The spokesperson went on to call her “a brave woman with all the courage and determination.”

Khatiwada, a captain, was flying with an instructor pilot for additional training when the crash occurred, Bartaula told CNN.

Pursuing being a pilot meant an end to her nursing career, according toThe New York Times.

“After her husband’s tragic death,she was determined to become a pilot,” a relative and friend of her father’s told the newspaper.

KRISHNA MANI BARAL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Her remains have not been identified, but the remains of flight captain Kamal K.C. have, an airline spokesperson told Reuters. The captain had over 21,900 hours of flight time.

“On Sunday, she was flying the plane with an instructor pilot, which is the standard procedure of the airline,” said an unnamed airline official who knew Khatiwada, per Reuters. “She was always ready to take up any duty.”

BIJAYA NEUPANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Earlier on Monday, Kaski District Police Chief Superintendent Ajay KC said earlier the chance of finding survivors was “extremely low,” per CNN.

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Among those involved in the crash were 15 foreign nationals, the aviation authority shared on Sunday.Of those on board, 37 were men, 25 were women, three were children and three were infants,CNNadded.

source: people.com