Nepal Plane Crash: At Least 18 Dead After Plane Crashes In Kathmandu
At least 18 people were killed after a Saurya Airlines flight, carrying 19 people onboard, slipped off the runway and crashed while attempting to take off from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Nepal’s Kathmandu, reported Kathmandu Post.
According to reports, around 19 people, including two crew members and 17 technicians, were aboard the Pokhara-bound flight for maintenance checks when the flight crashed around 11 am. A fire erupted from the crash was extinguished by emergency responders.
Rescue operations are underway with police and firefighters working at the accident site.
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The pilot, Manish Shankya, of the aircraft has been rushed to a hospital and is undergoing treatment for a head injury, said PTI.
After a wing-tip hit the ground while taking off, the airplane flipped and immediately caught fire, plunging into a gorge on the eastern side of the runway, reported The Kathmandu Post.
Flight Radar 24 pointed out that the plane belonged to local Saurya Airlines which operates domestic flights in the country with two Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets, both around 20 years old.
#SauryaAirlinesFlight With 19 Onboard Crashes In #Kathmandu#Nepal #Planecrash #nepalairline pic.twitter.com/Y4Gzv7BhBh
— Timeline. (@timelinelatest) July 24, 2024
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Located on top of a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and valleys on all sides, the Tribhuvan International Airport is regarded as one of the riskiest airports in the world.
Notably, the European Union has banned all carriers from Nepal from its airspace over security concerns. The country’s aircraft industry has been plagued by poor safety due to inefficient training and maintenance.
More details awaited.
