The bodies of 18 out of the 19 people on board a Kathmandu flight were recovered after the plane crashed at a Nepal airport on Wednesday. The passengers, consisting of two crew members and 17 Saurya Airlines staff, were on board the Pokhara-bound plane when it caught on fire while attempting to take off. The pilot of the aircraft has been hospitalized following the crash.
The CRJ200 plane, which can seat 50 passengers, did not gain altitude on takeoff, skidded off the runway, and caught fire, leading to the tragic incident. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Tribhuvan International Airport, where the crash occurred, is known for its challenging location on top of a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and valleys.
Nepal’s air industry has faced challenges with poor safety records, attributed to insufficient training and maintenance. This incident is reminiscent of previous tragedies in the country, including a 2023 crash that killed 72 people and Nepal’s deadliest crash in 1992 when 167 people died in a plane crash near Kathmandu airport.
Authorities, including firefighters and the Nepal army, are on the scene to investigate and assist with the aftermath of the crash. As the nation grapples with this tragic event, questions remain about the overall safety and regulation of Nepal’s air industry.
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