In a tragic incident at Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport, 18 out of 19 individuals aboard a Kathmandu-bound Saurya Airlines flight were found dead after the plane caught fire and crashed. According to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority, the ill-fated flight, involving two crew members and 17 airline staff, was bound for Pokhara for either technical or maintenance reasons. The incident occurred around 11 a.m., as reported by Nepali police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki to AFP.
The aircraft, a CRJ200 capable of seating 50 passengers, failed to gain altitude during takeoff. It skidded off the runway, tumbled down an embankment, and erupted in flames, NDTV was informed by an airport spokesperson. The pilot survived and has been hospitalized, per a statement from a security official to PTI.
Footage from the scene shows large flames and thick smoke billowing near the airport. Firefighters and the Nepal army quickly responded to the fire, although its cause remains under investigation. Tribhuvan International Airport is known for its challenging location atop a plateau surrounded by steep gorges and valleys, ranking it among the most perilous in the world.
Nepal’s aviation sector has a concerning safety record, attributed to inadequate training and maintenance. This recent crash echoes a string of aviation disasters, including a devastating Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara in 2023, which claimed 72 lives, and Nepal’s deadliest crash in 1992, where 167 perished on a Pakistan International Airlines flight near Kathmandu.
The aviation community continues to seek answers and improvements in safety protocols following these recurring tragedies.
Original Story https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/plane-with-19-onboard-crashes-during-take-off-at-kathmandu-airport-6176319/amp/1
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