According to The Associated Press, tragic plane crash occurred in Kathmandu on Wednesday, resulting in the death of all 18 passengers aboard, except for the pilot who was rescued from the wreckage.
According to police in the Nepalese capital, the Saurya Airlines flight was carrying two crew members and 17 staff from the airline.
Nepali police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki confirmed the details and stated that the pilot is receiving medical treatment. Among the deceased was a Yemeni citizen, identified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
The airport released a statement indicating that the aircraft veered to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway shortly after takeoff. The lone survivor is reportedly in serious condition at the hospital.
Eyewitness Ram Kumar K.C., who operates a tire store near the crash site, described the harrowing scene, noting that the plane caught fire upon impact and exploded shortly thereafter.
The exact purpose of the flight, whether for technical or maintenance reasons, was not specified by Gyanendra Bhul of Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority. Images from Nepal’s military depicted the devastating aftermath: the plane’s fuselage was split and charred, surrounded by fire retardant and military personnel.
The crash has left a deep emotional scar on the community, with dozens of grieving relatives congregating outside a nearby hospital where the bodies were transported.
Rajan Acharya, who lost his brother, a safety officer aboard the flight, expressed his profound grief, highlighting the close bond he shared with his sibling.
The ill-fated flight was set to travel on Nepal’s busiest route between Kathmandu and Pokhara, a key tourist destination. Saurya Airlines operates Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, as per their website, and has been a part of Nepal’s rapidly growing aviation sector. Despite this growth, the industry is marred by poor safety standards attributed to inadequate training, maintenance issues, and the challenging terrain of the Himalayas.
Nepal’s aviation safety record is notoriously poor, leading to a ban on all Nepali carriers within European Union airspace due to safety concerns.
The country’s mountainous topography presents some of the most challenging runways in the world, often flanked by snow-capped peaks and susceptible to sudden weather changes that create hazardous flying conditions.
This recent tragedy echoes the painful memories of previous air disasters in Nepal. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 passengers, marking it as Nepal’s deadliest incident since 1992. That year, a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed while approaching Kathmandu airport, resulting in 167 fatalities. Earlier in 1992, a Thai Airways aircraft also crashed near the same airport, killing 113 people.
Nepal’s aviation sector, despite its crucial role in connecting remote areas and supporting tourism, continues to grapple with safety issues. The mountainous geography and often unpredictable weather exacerbate the risk factors, demanding exceptional skill and training for pilots navigating these perilous routes.
The recurrent nature of such accidents stresses the urgent need for improved safety protocols and stringent regulatory oversight to prevent further loss of life in the skies over Nepal.
