Lagatar24 Desk
Kathmandu: A tragic incident occurred at Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday when a plane carrying 19 people crashed, resulting in the deaths of 18 individuals. The only survivor is the pilot, who is currently receiving medical treatment.
The aircraft, operated by Saurya Airlines, was conducting a technical or maintenance flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Among the passengers were two crew members and 17 airline staff. The plane caught fire around 11 am, shortly after skidding off the runway during takeoff. According to a Nepali police spokesman, Dan Bahadur Karki, the fire engulfed the plane after it slipped off the runway, fell down an embankment, and failed to gain altitude.
The CRJ200 aircraft, designed to seat 50 passengers, was engulfed in flames near the airport. Videos from the crash site show massive plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage. Firefighters and Nepal Army personnel quickly responded to the scene to control the blaze.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. Tribhuvan International Airport, known for its challenging location atop a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and valleys, is considered one of the riskiest airports globally.
Nepal’s aviation sector is notorious for its poor safety record, often attributed to inadequate training and maintenance. This latest crash follows the 2023 Yeti Airlines disaster, where 72 people, including five Indians, lost their lives. It was Nepal’s deadliest air crash since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed near Kathmandu, killing all 167 people on board.
