Nepal Plane Crash: Saurya Airlines Aircraft Catches Fire at Tribhuvan Airport, 18 Dead, Pilot Survives | World News
An aircraft belonging to a private airline company with 19 people on board crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Wednesday morning. At least 19 people, including aircrew, were aboard the Pokhara-bound Saurya Airlines plane which met with the accident at around 11 am, sources said. The pilot of the aircraft has been taken to a hospital, a security official deployed at the airport said.
Read More
At least 18 bodies were recovered from the small plane that caught fire after skidding off the runway during takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Chilling Crash In Nepal; Plane Bursts Into Flames During Take Off At Kathmandu Airport
Sole survivor and pilot's condition
The sole survivor of the crash was the pilot, who was transported to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for treatment. According to a doctor cited by AP, the pilot sustained injuries to the eyes but is not in any danger.
Details of the flight and passengers
The aircraft, operated by local carrier Saurya Airlines, was en route to Pokhara city carrying two crew members and 17 technicians for maintenance checks, as said by airport security chief Arjun Chand Thakuri.
The cause of the slip remains unclear.
Emergency efforts
"The plane skidded off the runway and crashed into a field east of the runway," Thakuri told Reuters. Emergency responders quickly extinguished the fire that erupted from the crash.
Visuals from the scene
Television footage showed firefighters battling the blaze as thick black smoke billowed into the sky. Other visuals captured rescue workers sifting through the charred remains of the plane, scattered across lush green fields. Bodies were seen being carried to ambulances on stretchers, with local residents looking on.
Airport closure and current weather conditions
Tribhuvan International Airport, the primary hub for international and domestic flights in Nepal, has been closed as emergency crews continue their work. Despite the monsoon season in Kathmandu, it was not raining at the time of the crash, though visibility was low across the capital.
Saurya Airlines, which operates domestic flights within Nepal, uses two Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets, both around 20 years old, according to Flight Radar 24.
Previous incidents
Nepal's air safety record has faced significant scrutiny in recent years. In 2019, a Bangladeshi airliner crashed at Tribhuvan airport, resulting in 51 fatalities while 20 survived. An investigation revealed the plane was misaligned with the runway and the pilot was disoriented, attempting to land in “sheer desperation.”
Similarly, in 2015, a Turkish Airlines jet skidded off a slippery runway at the same airport while landing in dense fog. Although the plane was carrying 238 people, no serious injuries were reported.
No comments:
Post a Comment