Nepal Plane Crash: Saurya Airlines Aircraft Crashes During Takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport, 18 Dead

Kathmandu: In a tragic incident, a Saurya Airlines aircraft crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Wednesday killing 18 people including all passengers and an airline staff. The airport has been temporarily shut down following the accident, which occurred around 11 AM, according to TIA spokesperson Premnath Thakur, as reported by the Kathmandu Post.

The aircraft, identified as a Mitsubishi CRJ-200ER with flight number 9N-AME, was bound for Pokhara and had 19 people on board, including crew members and a few technical staffers. The crash has resulted in the recovery of all 18 bodies of passengers and crew from the site. Captain Manish Shakya (37), the pilot, survived the crash and was promptly taken to a hospital in Sinamangal for treatment.

The South Asia Time reported that the plane skidded off the runway during takeoff and immediately burst into flames upon crashing. Firefighters and police are actively involved in rescue operations and are working to extinguish the fire and search for any survivors.

Witnesses cited by the Kathmandu Post described the plane attempting to take off from the southern end of the runway. The aircraft reportedly tilted to one side, causing a wing tip to hit the ground, which led to the fire and subsequent crash. The plane then plunged into a gorge located on the eastern side of the runway.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, which remains unknown at this time. The incident has cast a shadow over Nepal’s aviation industry, which has faced similar tragedies in the past.