A plane crash in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu has resulted in the deaths of eighteen people, including seventeen Saurya Airlines employees and one Yemeni national.
The only survivor, the pilot, is receiving treatment for injuries but is expected to recover.
The aircraft, en route to the tourist destination of Pokhara for a maintenance check, crashed shortly after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport.
Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion as the plane turned in the wrong direction and caught fire upon impact. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though initial assessments suggest pilot error.
Nepal’s aviation sector has a notorious history of safety issues due to factors like unpredictable weather and lax regulations.
This incident follows the January 2023 Yeti Airlines crash that claimed 72 lives, highlighting ongoing concerns about air safety in the region.
Following the crash, Kathmandu’s airport was temporarily closed but quickly resumed operations. Saurya Airlines, operating with a small fleet, is now under scrutiny as the aviation community seeks answers to this latest disaster.
🚨 Breaking – Disturbing Footage ⚠️
Commercial jet crashes during take off at airport in Nepal killing everyone on board.
What’s the chances it’s a Boeing? pic.twitter.com/IByEj5lr26
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) July 24, 2024
BREAKING NEWS 🚨
Plane with 19 passengers onboard crashes on take off at Kathmandu International Airport in Nepal.
Plane slipped off the runway and crashed.
Thirteen people have died while remaining all are injured.
The pilot of the aircraft has been taken to a hospital in… pic.twitter.com/j5XGwpLKsX
— Tejas Chauhan AAP (@tejaschauhanAAP) July 24, 2024
