Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal Flight Crash: A Saurya Airlines plane crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal's Kathmandu on Wednesday (Jul 24). 

Advertisment

Eighteen bodies were recovered from the plane that caught fire after skidding, while the pilot, who was the sole survivor, was rescued and taken for treatment, according to Nepal Police.

The Nepal Police took to their social media handle and posted, "Details regarding Saurya Airlines plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport on 2081/04/09 at 11:00. Passengers: 19 people (18 Nepalese and 1 Yemeni national, going to Pokhara for maintenance, all employees of Saurya Airlines) Death- 18, Rescue- 1."

×

Advertisment

Nepal flight crash: Saurya Airlines plane

Nineteen people, including aircrew, were aboard the Pokhara-bound plane which met with the accident at around 11 am, said Premnath Thakur, TIA spokesperson.

Tribhuvan International Airport said in a statement, "CRJ7 (Reg-9NAME) of Saurya Airlines took off from Kathmandu at 11:11 am local time during the flight to Pokhara, turned right and crashed at a place on the east side of the runway. It is reported that the fire was brought under control and the rescue work was started immediately. The dead bodies of 18 people were recovered and 1 injured person was rescued and taken to the hospital."

Advertisment

ALSO READ | Nepal Plane Crash: Moment when flight with 19 people on board crashed at Kathmandu airport captured

It may be mentioned here, that Nepal has a terrible track record on aviation safety and the Himalayan republic has seen a wave of deadly light plane and helicopter crashes over the decades.

×

The images of the aftermath shared by Nepal police showed the plane's fuselage split apart and burnt to ashes.

Over a dozen soldiers were standing on top of the wreckage with the surrounding earth coated in fire retardant.

Though tragically destined for Nepal's busiest route – Kathmandu to Pokhara, a key tourist destination – the Saurya Airlines plane involved in the crash was a Bombardier CRJ-200 jet, as per their website.

Watch: Nepal plane crash: Aircraft with 19 people on board crashes during takeoff

×

Poor safety

Although Nepal's air industry has boomed in recent years, carrying goods and people to hard-to-reach areas, it has been inundated by poor safety due to insufficient training and maintenance issues compounded by the mountainous republic's treacherous geography. 

nepal crash

Notably, the European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns. The country has some of the world's riskiest runways to land on, surrounded by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose a challenge even for accomplished pilots.

It was last year only, when Nepal reported a major commercial flight accident, when a Yeti Airlines plane crashed while landing at Pokhara, killing all 72 aboard.

That crash was Nepal's deadliest since 1992 when all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane died when it crashed while reaching Kathmandu airport.

(With inputs from agencies)