Kathmandu, Nepal – In a devastating incident at Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport, 18 out of the 19 people on board a Saurya Airlines flight were confirmed dead after the plane crashed during takeoff on Wednesday. The aircraft, bound for Pokhara, caught fire around 11 am, according to local media reports.
The passengers included crew members and technical staff, as confirmed by the Nepal military. The pilot, the sole survivor, has been rushed to a hospital for treatment, as reported by a security official to news agency PTI.
A Fiery End
Eyewitnesses at the airport described a horrific scene as the CRJ200 aircraft, designed to seat 50 passengers, burst into flames after skidding off the runway. The plane failed to gain altitude, slipped off the runway, fell down an embankment, and ignited. Videos from the scene depict a large fire with thick plumes of smoke billowing near the airport.
Emergency Response
Firefighters and Nepal army personnel were swiftly deployed to the crash site, battling the intense blaze. Despite their efforts, the cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time.
A Risky Airport
Tribhuvan International Airport is notoriously risky, located atop a plateau and surrounded by deep gorges and valleys. Its challenging terrain adds to the complexities of air travel safety in Nepal, a country plagued by poor air safety records.
A Grim History
Nepal’s aviation industry is marred by frequent accidents, attributed to inadequate training and maintenance. In 2023, a Yeti Airlines aircraft crash in Pokhara claimed 72 lives, including five Indians, marking the deadliest air disaster since a 1992 Pakistan International Airlines crash that killed all 167 aboard near Kathmandu.
A Call for Change
This recent tragedy underscores the urgent need for improvements in Nepal’s aviation safety standards to prevent future calamities.
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