Kathmandu: In a tragic incident, a Saurya Airlines plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, Nepal on July 24. The aircraft was identified as a CRJ-200 model, and it was bound for Pokhara
The bodies of eighteen people have been recovered from the wreckage of the Saurya Airlines CRJ-200 plane, which was bound for Pokhara. According to Gyanendra Bhul, the information officer at TIA, those onboard the ill-fated flight were primarily technical staff of the airline. The pilot and other injured individuals have been promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke emanating from the crashed aircraft, prompting swift responses from the police and firefighting personnel deployed to the scene. The rescue operation is currently underway to save any possible survivors and investigate the cause of the accident.
#BREAKING |
Plane with 19 onboard crashes during take-off at #Kathmandu airport pic.twitter.com/ciaXPOherq— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) July 24, 2024
At this stage, the exact reason behind the crash remains unknown. However, efforts are being made to gather more information and provide a comprehensive understanding of the incident. Among the recovered bodies, one of the survivors is Captain Manish Shakya, aged 37, who has been safely rescued and transferred to a hospital in Sinamangal.
It is worth noting that Saurya Airlines was acquired by India’s Kuber Group in 2019 for a sum of 630 million Nepali rupees. Although there were plans to rebrand the airline as Kuber Airlines in 2021, the initiative was subsequently put on hold.
Nepal, has been plagued by a distressing trend of flight disasters, averaging approximately one per year. The country has witnessed a staggering total of 12 fatal plane crashes since 2010, leaving behind a trail of tragedy and loss.
In the most recent incident, a Yeti Airlines flight on January 2023, crashed near the central city of Pokhara. The crash claimed the lives of all 72 individuals on board, including passengers and crew members. As the aircraft descended towards Pokhara, it tragically plummeted into a steep gorge, shattering into countless pieces and igniting in flames.
On May 29, 2022, a Tara Air plane crashed in Mustang district, resulting in the loss of lives of all 22 people aboard. Another heart-wrenching accident unfolded in 2018 near Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, involving a US-Bangla Airlines flight. The ill-fated plane crash-landed, leading to the tragic death of 51 individuals, while 20 others suffered severe injuries.
