On Wednesday, a passenger plane belonging to Saurya Airlines crashed during take-off at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, resulting in the deaths of 18 passengers. The pilot was rescued from the wreckage and is currently receiving medical treatment, according to Nepali police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki.

The flight, which was carrying two crew members and 17 staff of the airline, veered off the runway and crashed shortly after take-off. The incident underscores Nepal’s troubled history with aviation safety, marked by numerous deadly crashes involving light planes and helicopters.

Details of the Crash:

• Survivors and Casualties: The pilot, the sole survivor, is in serious condition. Among the deceased, one foreign national, a Yemeni citizen, was identified.
• Witness Accounts: Ram Kumar K.C., a local business owner, reported that the plane caught fire upon impact, followed by an explosion that prevented immediate rescue attempts.
• Purpose of the Flight: Gyanendra Bhul of Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority mentioned that the flight was for technical or maintenance purposes.

Aftermath and Investigation:
Images shared by Nepal’s military depicted the plane’s fuselage split and burnt. Soldiers and security personnel were seen inspecting the wreckage, coated in fire retardant. Grieving relatives gathered at a nearby hospital where the bodies were transported for post-mortem examinations.

Nepal’s Aviation Safety Record:
Nepal’s air industry, crucial for transporting goods and people in the mountainous region, has faced significant safety challenges. The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace due to these safety concerns. The country’s geography, with its high-altitude runways flanked by peaks, poses additional challenges for even the most experienced pilots.

Saurya Airlines, which operates Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, was flying on the busy Kathmandu-Pokhara route, a key tourism corridor in Nepal. The tragic incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for improved training and maintenance in Nepal’s aviation sector.