Passenger Plane Crashes During Takeoff in Kathmandu
A Saurya Airlines passenger plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, on Wednesday morning. Fire crews are currently working to extinguish the flaming wreckage.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:15 am (0530 GMT), according to a statement from Nepal’s military.
“Rescue work is going on,” the statement added, noting the involvement of the army’s quick response team in the rescue efforts.
Further details are still being confirmed, said Jagannath Niroula, general manager of Kathmandu airport, in a statement to AFP.
According to The Kathmandu Post, the flight had 19 people on board, including air crew. News portal Khabarhub reported that the plane caught fire after skidding on the runway, releasing a significant plume of smoke.
The flight was bound for Pokhara, a key tourism hub in the Himalayan Republic. Saurya Airlines exclusively operates Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, according to its website.
Nepal’s air industry has seen significant growth in recent years, facilitating the transport of goods and people between remote areas, as well as catering to foreign trekkers and climbers.
However, the industry has been marred by poor safety records attributed to insufficient training and maintenance. The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over these safety concerns.
Nepal’s aviation safety record is further complicated by its challenging geography. The country boasts some of the world’s most difficult runways, flanked by snow-capped peaks, with approaches that challenge even seasoned pilots. Rapidly changing weather conditions in the mountains add to the hazards of flying.
The last major commercial flight accident in Nepal occurred in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines service crashed while landing in Pokhara, resulting in the deaths of all 72 people on board.
This was the deadliest aviation disaster in Nepal since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport, killing all 167 passengers and crew.
Earlier in 1992, a Thai Airways aircraft crashed near the same airport, resulting in 113 fatalities. Authorities have not yet released the identities of those aboard the Saurya Airlines flight.
