Kathmandu: A tragic plane crash at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals aboard a Saurya Airlines flight. The only survivor is the plane’s captain, who is currently receiving medical treatment, according to officials.
“Only the captain was rescued alive and is receiving treatment at a hospital,” said Tej Bahadur Poudyal, spokesperson for Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport.
The 50-seater CRJ-200 aircraft, carrying two crew members and 17 technicians, was en route to Nepal’s newly established Pokhara airport for regular maintenance. Among the passengers were 18 Nepali citizens and one engineer from Yemen, as reported by Saurya Airlines.
“Shortly after takeoff… the aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway,” stated the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
This incident highlights Nepal’s ongoing air safety challenges. The impoverished, landlocked Himalayan nation, bordered by India and China, relies heavily on air travel due to its limited road infrastructure. Since 2000, nearly 360 people have died in aviation accidents in Nepal.
In response to the crash, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli visited the site and urged patience via social media, though he did not provide further details. An emergency cabinet meeting has been convened to form a panel to investigate the incident, according to a government spokesperson.
Dense Black Smoke Engulfs Crash Site
Television footage captured the dramatic scene as firefighters battled the blaze, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky. The plane was seen flying just above the runway before tilting to its right and crashing. Rescue workers were shown examining the charred wreckage scattered across green fields, with bodies being transported to ambulances.
The airport was temporarily closed following the crash but resumed operations within hours, officials confirmed.
According to Flightradar24, Saurya Airlines operates two CRJ-200 regional jets, which were originally manufactured by Canada’s Bombardier but were acquired by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2020. Bombardier has referred inquiries about the incident to MHI RJ Aviation Group.
“We are committed to cooperating with the authorities in the investigation to determine the cause of this accident,” MHI stated in a comment to Reuters.
Persistent Air Safety Concerns
Nepal has faced criticism for its poor air safety record, particularly given the challenging terrain and weather conditions. The country, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, has numerous small airports situated in remote and mountainous regions. Kathmandu’s main airport, surrounded by mountains, presents significant challenges for pilots during takeoff and landing.
The deadliest aviation accident in Nepal’s history occurred in 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crashed into a hillside near Kathmandu, killing 167 people. More recently, a January 2023 crash involving Yeti Airlines, attributed to a pilot error, resulted in the deaths of at least 72 people.
