A Saurya Airlines plane crashed and ignited during its departure from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, resulting in the deaths of 18 people, according to officials. The plane, which was transporting two crew members and 17 technicians for maintenance work in Pokhara, was engulfed in flames upon impact.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal reported that the Bombardier CRJ-200, registered as 9N-AME, swerved to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway shortly after its 11:15 a.m. takeoff. It was scheduled to undergo a month-long maintenance procedure.
The only survivor of the crash was the pilot, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, confirmed Tej Bahadur Poudyal, a spokesperson for Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. “Everything was normal before the flight was ready to take off,” stated Mukesh Khanal, marketing head of Saurya Airlines. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the plane was quickly consumed by fire following the crash. Television footage showed firefighters working to control the flames as thick black smoke filled the sky. A local resident who witnessed the crash described how the plane was flying low before it sharply tilted to the right and crashed.
Incidents like this underscore the alarming air safety record in Nepal. Since 2000, almost 360 people have lost their lives in plane or helicopter crashes within the country. Factors such as Nepal’s challenging landscape, sudden weather changes, and the use of outdated aircraft contribute to the high frequency of air accidents.
Following the crash, Nepal’s Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, visited the site and called for patience in a social media post. The government convened an emergency cabinet meeting to establish a panel to investigate the crash, as confirmed by a government spokesperson. The government has pledged to enhance aviation safety standards.
The crash led to a temporary closure of Kathmandu airport, which was reopened within a few hours. The plane was heading for maintenance at the newly opened Pokhara Regional Airport, equipped with state-of-the-art maintenance hangars.
Previous air tragedies in Nepal’s history include a crash in January 2023 involving Yeti Airlines that resulted in at least 72 fatalities and a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crash in 1992 that took 167 lives. The frequency of these accidents has led to Nepali carriers being barred from entering European Union airspace due to safety concerns.