In yet another crash in Nepal, 18 employees of Saurya Airlines died after its aircraft caught fire during take off at the Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu.
The dead include a Nepalese woman and a Yemeni national.
The 50- seat aircraft burst into flames after it skidded off the runway, according to news reports.
Captain Manish Shakya of the Pokhara-bound flight is the lone survivor.
The 37 year-old pilot was rescued from the crash spot with serious injuries and is being treated at the Kathmandu Medical College Hospital in Sinamangal.
His condition is not known yet.
Local media images showed smoke rising and aircraft wreckage scattered all over a ditch. The fire has been brought under control.
Official Version
The Nepalese media, quoting the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, confirmed the death of 18 passengers on the Saurya Airlines aircraft (CRJ2) with registration number 9N-AME.
The Rescue Coordination Center of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said in a Press release, that the aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway, shortly after takeoff at 11.11 (local time)
The flight had 17 airline staff and two crew members who were travelling for maintenance of the aircraft, the Nepal Police said.
The Nepalese media, quoting Saurya Airlines, put out names of the crew members and its technical staff.
Besides Captain M.R. Shakya, others on board were co-Pilot S. Katuwal, Amit Man Maharjan, Sagar Acharya, Dilip Verma, Manu Raj Sharma, Ashwin Niroula, Sudip Lal Joshi, Sarbesh Marasaini, Shyam Bindukar, Navaraj Ale, Raja Ram Acharya, Priza Khatiwada, Adhi Raj Sharma, Uddhab Puri, Yagya Prasad Poudyal, Santosh Mahato, Punya Ratna Saahi and Aref Reda.
PM Oli Visits Spot
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has arrived at the crash spot to observe the situation and gather information regarding the Saurya Airlines plane crash.
A team including Home Minister Ramesh Lekh, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badrilal Pandey, and Chairman of the State Affairs Committee Ramhari Khatiwada also visited the airport.
The team gathered details about the incident and provide necessary instructions.
The Tribhuvan International Airport has temporarily shut down operations following the plane crash.
Saurya Airlines
Saruya Airlines operates flights to five tourist destinations within Nepal, with a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets, the company website stated.
Saurya Airlines was once grounded in 2018 for failing to pay debts to the Kathmandu airport operator, according to news reports.
Air Crashes In Nepal
Mountainous Nepal has a sorry history of deadly air crashes.
Before Wednesday’s crash, nearly 360 people had been killed in the country in 19 air crashes since 2000.
The frequency of plane and helicopter crashes this century in the Himalayan country, is definitely a cause of grave concern.
In Nepal, several airlines operate flights to small airports in remote hills and mountains shrouded in clouds and cut off from roads.
July 24, 2024
At least 18 persons were killed when a Bombardier CRJ 200 plane crashed and caught fire while it was taking off from Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.
July 11, 2023
Six persons were killed in a in central Nepal. The chopper, which departed from Solukhunvhu district, home to Mount Everest and other high mountain peaks, had five Mexican nationals and one Nepalese pilot on board.
Jan 15, 2023
A twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft carrying 72 people, operated by Nepal’s Yeti Airlines, crashed in Pokhara, killing all on board.
It was the worst air crash in the country since 1992 when all 167 persons aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane were killed when it ploughed into a hill as it tried to land in Kathmandu.
May 29, 2022
Sixteen Nepalese, four Indians and two Germans died on a De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter aircraft that crashed 15 minutes after taking off from Pokhara, 125 km (80 miles) west of Kathmandu.
Feb 27, 2019
A helicopter crashed in bad weather in eastern Nepal, killing all seven people on board, including the tourism minister.
March 12, 2018
Fifty-one of 71 persons on a Bangladeshi airliner operated by US-Bangla Airlines died when it crashed in cloudy weather as it came in to land at the Nepalese capital’s hill-ringed airport.
Feb 26, 2016
A small plane crash in western Nepal’s Kalikot district also resulted in some casualties. Kasthamandap Airlines was operating it.
Feb 24, 2016
A small plane crashed in bad weather, killing all 23 persons on board. The Twin Otter aircraft, operated by Tara Air, was on a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom in western Nepal.
Feb 16, 2014
All 18 persons on a small plane that crashed in bad weather died. The state-run Nepal Airlines Corp. was operating the Twin Otter aircraft.
Sept 28, 2012
A small propeller-driven Dornier aircraft struck a bird and crashed shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu, killing 19 people, including seven British and five Chinese passengers.
Sept 25, 2011
A small plane carrying foreign tourists to view Mount Everest crashed in bad weather near Kathmandu, killing all 19 persons on board. Buddha Air, a private airline, was operating this Beech aircraft.
Dec 16, 2010
A small plane crashed in the Himalayan foothills of remote east Nepal, killing all 22 persons onboard. Tara Air was operating the Twin Otter aircraft.
Aug 24, 2010
Fourteen persons – including four Americans, a Japanese and British national died when their small plane crashed in bad weather in Nepal. Agni Air was operating this plane.
Oct 8, 2008
A small Twin Otter plane crashed in the remote mountains of northeast Nepal, killing at least 18 persons, mostly foreigners.
March 4, 2008
Ten persons including four U.N. arms monitors died in a helicopter crash in Nepal.
June 21, 2006
A Twin Otter passenger plane operated by Yeti Airlines crashed minutes before landing in the west of the country, killing all nine persons on board.
May 25, 2004
A Twin Otter cargo plane operated by Yeti Airlines, crashed in the Mount Everest region, killing its three crew.
Aug 22, 2002
Another Twin Otter plane, carrying foreign tourists, slammed into a mountain in bad weather in Nepal, killing all 18 persons on board. Shangrila Air was operating it.
July 17, 2002
Four persons died after a twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountain in west Nepal minutes before it was due to land.
July 27, 2000
A Canadian-built Twin Otter passenger plane crashed in western Nepal, killing all 25 persons on board. State-owned Royal Nepal Airlines operated it.
