A tragic incident occurred in Kathmandu as a regional passenger plane belonging to Nepal’s Saurya Airlines crashed during takeoff, resulting in the deaths of eighteen people. The plane was carrying two crew members and 17 technicians who were en route to the new airport in Pokhara for maintenance. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal reported that the aircraft veered off course shortly after takeoff, crashing on the east side of the runway and bursting into flames.
Only the captain of the plane survived the crash and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. TV footage showed the rescue efforts as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and retrieve the bodies from the wreckage strewn across lush green fields. The cause of the crash remains unknown, with the plane scheduled for maintenance the following day.
Nepal’s air safety record has faced criticism due to the challenging terrain and weather conditions faced by pilots flying in the Himalayan country. The main airport in Kathmandu is surrounded by mountains, making takeoffs and landings difficult. Since 2000, nearly 350 people have died in plane or helicopter crashes in Nepal, with the deadliest incident occurring in 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crashed into a hillside, killing 167 people.
This tragic incident serves as another reminder of the dangers faced by those flying in Nepal, with the country’s difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions contributing to ongoing safety challenges for pilots and passengers alike.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com