18 precious lives were lost as a Saurya Airlines plane tragically crashed and caught fire during takeoff from Kathmandu, Nepal.
The sole survivor, the pilot, is currently hospitalized and receiving treatment.
The flight, carrying 19 people, including technical staff and crew, crashed shortly after departing Tribhuvan International Airport on a routine test flight to Pokhara. Initial reports suggest the plane veered off course immediately after takeoff.
Authorities at the airport noted the aircraft’s abrupt right turn instead of the expected left shortly after liftoff. The crash resulted in a devastating scene as the plane hit the ground, igniting into flames within moments.
Swift and determined, the rescue efforts were a beacon of hope in the midst of the grim scene of charred wreckage and emergency responders navigating through debris. The accident claimed the lives of 17 Nepali nationals and one Yemeni engineer.
According to police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki, the pilot, while injured, is reported to be stable and not in life-threatening condition, bringing a sense of relief amidst the tragedy.
This incident underscores ongoing concerns about Nepal’s aviation safety record, marked by challenges, including unpredictable weather and regulatory shortcomings. Saruya Airlines, the operator involved, serves multiple domestic destinations with a fleet of Bombardier CRJ-200 jets.
The crash marks one of Nepal’s deadliest aviation disasters since 1992, underscoring the nation’s ongoing challenges in air travel safety.
