18 people killed in plane crash at international airport in Kathmandu

New Delhi, July 24: A tragic accident occurred on Wednesday when a Saurya Airlines plane crashed and caught fire at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu during takeoff. The flight, bound for Pokhara, was carrying only the airline's technical staff.

The crash resulted in the deaths of 18 people, with the pilot, who is currently receiving medical treatment in the hospital, being the sole survivor.

There were 19 individuals on board, including technical staff members and two crew members.

The incident happened at around 11:15 local time just a few minutes after the plane took off. According to a statement by the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority's search and rescue coordination centre, the plane suffered a runway excursion, leading to the fatal crash.

Visuals from the site show rescue workers navigating through the wreckage, with large sections of the plane completely blackened and charred. Initial images depicted the aircraft enveloped in fire and smoke. Fire engines and ambulances were promptly dispatched to the scene.

Among the deceased, 17 were Nepali nationals, and one was a Yemeni engineer working with the airline. TIA Spokesperson Subash Jha confirmed the details, stating that thick smoke was seen billowing from the airport as police and firefighters carried out rescue operations.

Preliminary reports indicated that five bodies were initially recovered from the crash site.

Nepal has been criticized for its poor air safety record, averaging about one flight disaster annually. Since 2010, the country has witnessed at least 12 fatal plane crashes, including this latest incident. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines flight tragically crashed near Pokhara, killing all 72 people on board.

Saurya Airlines is a moderate local airline that operates flights to five destinations within Nepal, using a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets.