landed from runway - Multiple fatalities in plane crash in Nepal
In Nepal, a plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff from Kathmandu's international airport. "18 bodies have been recovered, including a foreigner," a police spokesperson told AFP news agency. The pilot was the only survivor – he was reportedly rescued from the burning wreckage by the police.
The plane belonging to Saurya Airlines is said to have crashed on a Wednesday morning at 11:15 am local time (6:45 am CET). The Nepalese military made the announcement.
The aircraft was en route to Pokhara, a significant tourist destination in the Himalayan state. According to a police officer, there were 19 people on board, including the crew. This was reportedly a test flight. The accident occurred when the plane veered off the runway during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Khabarhub news portal reported that the plane skidded off the runway and caught fire.
Safety concerns in Nepal aviation
Photos from a distance showed a large smoke cloud. Army photos from the crash site showed that the plane's fuselage was broken apart and burnt down to its frame. According to initial reports, five bodies were recovered from the crash site, wrote the local newspaper "Kathmandu Post". The pilot was taken to a hospital.
The aviation industry in Nepal has experienced significant growth in recent years. However, due to inadequate training and maintenance, safety is a concern. The European Union has banned all airlines from Nepal due to safety concerns. As a result, no planes from the Himalayan country are allowed to start or land in Europe.
Moreover, Nepal has some of the most challenging runways in the world, posing a challenge even for experienced pilots. Additionally, the weather in the mountainous country is highly unpredictable and creates challenging flying conditions.
The last major aircraft accident occurred in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines plane crashed during landing in Pokhara, resulting in the death of all 72 people on board. The most recent tragedy prior to this was in 1992, when 167 people were killed in a Pakistan International Airlines plane crash on approach to Kathmandu's airport.
The crashed airplane was a Saurya Airlines aircraft, scheduled to reach Pokhara, a prominent tourist destination in Nepal. Despite Nepal's growing aviation industry, tragedies like this aircraft crash in Kathmandu's airport, involving an airplane veering off the runway during takeoff, highlight the ongoing safety concerns.
