In a horrific incident, a passenger plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu’s international airport on Wednesday morning, leaving the nation in shock.
The Saurya Airlines flight, carrying 19 people, including crew members, was en route to the popular tourist destination of Pokhara when the tragedy occurred.
According to the Nepalese military’s statement, the plane crashed around 11:15 am local time (5:30 GMT). Rescue teams from the army’s quick response unit immediately rushed to the scene, where they found the aircraft engulfed in flames.
“Rescue work is ongoing, and further details are still being confirmed,” said Jagannath Niroula, the general manager of Kathmandu airport, in an interview with AFP.
The Kathmandu Post reported that the plane had caught fire after skidding on the runway, releasing a significant plume of smoke. Saurya Airlines exclusively operates Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, according to its website.
Nepal’s aviation industry has experienced a rapid growth in recent years, transporting both goods and people to various parts of the country, including remote areas. However, the industry has also been plagued by safety concerns, with the European Union imposing a ban on all Nepali carriers from its airspace due to these issues.
The Himalayan nation’s treacherous geography, with its challenging runways and rapidly changing weather conditions, has further compounded the challenges faced by the aviation sector. This latest tragedy comes just months after the deadly crash of a Yeti Airlines flight in Pokhara, which claimed the lives of all 72 people on board, making it the country’s deadliest aviation accident since 1992.
As the authorities work to investigate the cause of this latest crash and provide support to the victims’ families, the aviation industry in Nepal faces renewed scrutiny and calls for stricter safety measures to prevent such devastating incidents from occurring in the future.
