Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

5 minutes read. Updated 4:50PM GMT Wed, 24July, 2024

A tragic plane crash in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, has left eighteen people dead and the pilot as the sole survivor, who is currently receiving medical treatment in the hospital. The fatal incident occurred on Wednesday when a Saurya Airlines flight crashed and caught fire during takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport.

The ill-fated flight was carrying 17 Saurya Airlines employees, including technical staff, along with two crew members, bound for the Himalayan tourism hub of Pokhara in western Nepal. The crash has once again highlighted the poor safety record of Nepal’s aviation industry, which has been plagued by various issues ranging from unpredictable weather to inadequate regulatory oversight.

Details of the Incident

The flight, which was on a routine maintenance check, crashed at approximately 11:15 local time (05:30 GMT), just minutes after takeoff. According to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority’s search and rescue coordination center, the plane went down shortly after leaving the ground, causing a loud explosion that could be heard by nearby residents.

Dan Bahadur Karki, a spokesperson for the police, reported that the pilot sustained injuries to his eyes and forehead but is expected to survive. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with one individual recounting the loud noise of the crash and subsequent explosion that forced them to flee the area.

Airport chief Jagannath Niraula indicated that the accident happened almost immediately after takeoff, with initial assessments suggesting the plane may have taken an incorrect flight path. “As soon as it took off, it turned right when it should have turned left,” Niraula told BBC Nepali.

Footage from the scene shows the aircraft tilting above the runway before crashing and becoming engulfed in flames and smoke. Rescue workers were seen navigating through the charred wreckage, and parts of the plane appeared to be lodged inside an air freight container.

Response and Investigation

Fire engines and ambulances responded promptly to the crash site. Among the deceased, seventeen were Nepali nationals, and one was a Yemeni engineer. Saurya Airlines’ marketing head, Mukesh Khanal, stated that the plane was scheduled for maintenance starting the following day and expressed uncertainty over the cause of the crash.

The airport was temporarily closed following the accident but resumed operations within hours. This tragic event has once again brought attention to Nepal’s troubled aviation sector. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines crash resulted in the deaths of at least 72 people due to pilot error, marking the deadliest air disaster in Nepal since 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed, killing all 167 onboard.

Saurya Airlines and Nepal’s Aviation Safety

Saurya Airlines operates with a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets, providing flights to five destinations within Nepal. This latest incident underscores the critical need for improved safety measures and regulatory enforcement within the country’s aviation industry.

For more detailed information on Nepal’s aviation safety and past incidents, please refer to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal’s official report.