Tragic Plane Crash in Kathmandu Claims 18 Lives
A devastating plane crash occurred during takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, resulting in the loss of 18 lives. The incident took place on Wednesday around 11:15 local time (05:30 GMT) shortly after the Saurya Airlines test flight commenced its journey.
Among the passengers onboard, including technical staff and crew members, only the pilot survived and is currently receiving medical treatment. The flight was headed to Pokhara, a well-known tourist destination in Nepal.
Nepal’s aviation sector has faced longstanding challenges related to safety, attributed to factors ranging from unpredictable weather conditions to regulatory shortcomings. This incident adds to the concerns, as initial reports suggest that the aircraft deviated from its intended flight path immediately upon takeoff, turning in the wrong direction.
Airport authorities confirmed that the plane had just left the ground when it encountered difficulties. Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos as rescue workers navigated through the wreckage, which was engulfed in flames and smoke shortly after the crash.
Of the deceased, 17 were Nepali citizens, accompanied by a Yemeni national who worked as an engineer. Witnesses reported hearing unusual cracking noises from the aircraft before the crash occurred.
This tragic event echoes the serious air safety issues in Nepal, highlighted by a fatal incident in January 2023, where 72 lives were lost in a Yeti Airlines crash due to pilot error. The latest crash marks one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in Nepal’s recent history, following a catastrophic 1992 incident that claimed all 167 passengers aboard a Pakistan International Airlines flight.
Saurya Airlines operates domestic routes with a fleet that includes Bombardier CRJ-200 jets, serving five key destinations within Nepal. The aviation community eagerly anticipates further investigations into the cause of this latest disaster to enhance flight safety moving forward.
