Nepal: 18 Dead as Plane Crashes During Take Off in Kathmandu
Nepal’s morning turned sour when a private airline named Saurya Airlines flight crashed immediately after takeoff on 24th July 2024 killing all 18 onboard. Watch this video to learn how.
Nepal's morning turned tragic when a Saurya Airlines flight crashed immediately after takeoff on 24th July 2024.
The flight, carrying 18 company employees and 2 crew members, took off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu at around 11:10 am, heading to Pokhara for the plane’s monthly maintenance and review.
Reports say a fire broke out on the flight shortly after takeoff. Several videos show the plane tilting sharply to the right and then left before crashing into open ground near the airport at around 11:30 am.
The crash site was soon engulfed in flames, with multiple explosions occurring after the impact. Airport authorities and emergency staff, including fire trucks, ambulances, and security personnel, rushed to the scene.
Rescue workers recovered the bodies of all 18 people on board from the flight debris. The pilot was the sole survivor, sustaining severe injuries to the eyes and forehead. He has been admitted to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital.
A local shop owner described the crash, saying, “There was a very loud noise, it sounded like maybe a truck had overturned on the road.”
The Tribhuvan International Airport was temporarily shut down after the crash but reopened a few hours later.
Some news reports mistakenly claimed that the flight was a passenger plane and included a 4-year-old child among the victims.
The cause of the crash remains unclear. However, a senior airport official suggested that the flight might have flown in the wrong direction, turning right instead of left after takeoff.
This tragic incident is not the first of its kind in Nepal. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines flight crashed due to pilot error, killing around 72 people.
Nepal's aviation industry has a poor safety record, often blamed on factors like unpredictable weather, mountainous terrain, and lenient safety and training regulations. The European Union has banned Nepali flights from entering its airspace due to these safety concerns.
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