A passenger plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff in Kathmandu on Wednesday, resulting in multiple fatalities, though the pilot survived, according to Nepali police in the capital. Nepal has a poor aviation safety record, with numerous light plane and helicopter crashes over the years.
The Saurya Airlines flight was on a test run with two crew members and 17 staff on board, Nepali police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki told AFP. “The pilot has been rescued and is receiving treatment. The status of the others on board is uncertain, but many have not survived,” he added.
Images shared by Nepal’s military show the plane’s fuselage split apart and burned. About a dozen soldiers in camouflage were seen on the wreckage, surrounded by fire retardant.
The crash occurred at around 11:15 am (0530 GMT), with the army’s quick response team assisting in the rescue efforts. News portal Khabarhub reported that the airplane caught fire after skidding on the runway.
The plane was scheduled to fly Nepal’s busiest route between Kathmandu and Pokhara, a major tourism hub. Saurya Airlines operates exclusively Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, according to its website.
Nepal’s air industry has grown rapidly, transporting goods and people to remote areas and foreign trekkers and climbers. However, safety issues due to inadequate training and maintenance, along with challenging geography, have plagued the industry. The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns.
Nepal has some of the world’s most difficult runways, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and challenging approaches even for skilled pilots. Rapidly changing weather conditions in the mountains also contribute to hazardous flying conditions.
Nepal’s last major commercial flight accident was in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 people on board. This was Nepal’s deadliest accident since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed near Kathmandu, killing all 167 aboard. Earlier that year, a Thai Airways aircraft also crashed near the same airport, resulting in 113 fatalities.
Source: Agence France-Presse//Photo: AP
