A passenger aircraft crashed during takeoff in Kathmandu, resulting in the tragic loss of 18 lives, according to Nepali police.
The Kathmandu plane crash claimed the lives of 17 staff members from Saurya Airlines and one foreign national. The sole survivor, the pilot, was rescued from the burning wreckage and is currently receiving medical attention, police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki reported.
The Saurya Airlines flight was on a technical or maintenance mission, said Gyanendra Bhul from Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, although further details were not provided. The crash occurred at approximately 11:15 am local time (0530 GMT).
Photographs released by the Nepalese military show the plane’s fuselage torn and charred, with soldiers amidst the debris. The military’s rapid response team assisted in the rescue operations.
The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ 200 jet, caught fire after sliding off the runway, reported news website Khabarhub. The flight was scheduled on Nepal’s busiest air route, connecting Kathmandu and Pokhara, a key tourist destination.
Nepal’s aviation sector, despite significant growth, has struggled with safety issues due to inadequate training and maintenance, compounded by the challenging mountainous terrain. The European Union has banned all Nepali airlines from its airspace due to these concerns.
Nepal has a history of aviation accidents. The most recent major incident was in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines plane crashed in Pokhara, killing all 72 on board. In 1992, two significant accidents near Kathmandu airport involved Pakistan International Airlines and Thai Airways, resulting in the loss of 167 and 113 lives, respectively.
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