A domestic flight operated by Saurya Airlines crashed while attempting to take off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on July 24, resulting in the deaths of 18 passengers, including a Yemeni national and a child.
The crash left only the pilot alive, who sustained injuries but is not in life-threatening condition.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:11 a.m. local time.
The plane, en route to the resort town of Pokhara, veered off the runway shortly after takeoff and crashed in the eastern section of the airport.
A press statement issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal confirmed the details of the crash.
Following the crash, Kathmandu airport temporarily suspended services to manage the emergency.
The airport’s rescue teams, alongside the army’s quick response unit, responded swiftly to the site, where they worked to control the fire and recover the victims.
TV broadcasts showed the aircraft tilting shortly after takeoff, followed by firefighters battling the ensuing flames and thick black smoke.
“Only the captain was rescued alive and is receiving treatment at a hospital,” said Tej Bahadur Poudyal, spokesperson for Tribhuvan International Airport.
The pilot was taken to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital with eye injuries.
“His condition is stable and not life-threatening,” a doctor at the hospital confirmed.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. While the weather in Kathmandu was not rainy at the time, visibility was notably low.
Nepal’s aviation industry, despite booming in recent years to connect remote areas and cater to international trekkers and climbers, has faced persistent safety challenges.
These include insufficient training and maintenance, compounded by the country’s difficult mountainous terrain.
Nepal’s air industry has been under scrutiny, leading to a ban by the European Union on all Nepali carriers from its airspace due to safety concerns.
The region’s treacherous geography and rapidly changing weather conditions make flying particularly challenging.
This tragic event marks Nepal’s deadliest plane crash since January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 people on board.
Nepal’s aviation history includes several deadly crashes, underscoring ongoing safety issues.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and local government officials are urging a comprehensive review of aviation safety protocols to prevent future tragedies.
