Nepal Plane Crash 2024: A harrowing incident unfolded on Wednesday as a plane with 19 individuals on board slid off the runway and crashed during an attempted takeoff from Kathmandu airport. The ill-fated flight, operated by the domestic Saurya airline, was en route from Kathmandu to the picturesque town of Pokhara in Nepal.
Tragedy struck as the aircraft, carrying technical staff among others, encountered a fatal mishap, leading to a devastating crash. Gyanendra Bhul, information officer at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), confirmed the unfortunate events to the Himalayan Times. Observers noted smoke billowing from the site of the crash, prompting immediate response efforts from firefighters and airport security teams.
Reports from the scene indicate a grim toll, with 18 passengers losing their lives in the tragic accident. Miraculously, the pilot, Captain MR Shakya, survived the catastrophe and was swiftly transported to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for urgent medical attention. While suffering from eye injuries, Captain Shakya was fortunately deemed to be out of critical condition.
Eyewitness accounts shed light on the chaotic moments leading to the crash, describing how the aircraft attempted to ascend from the southern end of the runway before abruptly veering off course, resulting in a catastrophic impact with the ground. The aftermath saw the plane engulfed in flames before careening into a gorge adjacent to the eastern periphery of the runway.
Despite prevailing weather conditions typical of the monsoon season in Kathmandu, the crash occurred under relatively clear skies, illustrating the sudden and unforeseeable nature of aviation disasters. The ill-fated aircraft was part of Saurya Airlines’ fleet, known for its operations within Nepal utilizing Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets, both nearly two decades old as per Flight Radar 24 records.
Nepal’s aviation sector has long grappled with a history of plane crashes, often attributed to the rugged mountainous topography, inadequate investments in modern aircraft and infrastructure, volatile weather patterns, and lapses in regulatory oversight. The tragic event echoes past aviation catastrophes in Nepal, such as the fatal ATR-72 Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara in January 2023, claiming 72 lives in a grim milestone for the country’s aviation safety record.
In solidarity with the victims of the Nepal Plane Crash 2024, the global aviation community mourns the loss and reaffirms its commitment to enhancing safety standards and preventing future tragedies in the skies above the Himalayan nation. As investigations into the crash unfold, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances leading to this heart-wrenching calamity and implementing measures to safeguard the lives of passengers and crew in the air.
