At least 18 have been reported dead after a small plane veered off the runway in Nepal’s capital on Wednesday, as reported by local officials.
One person survived the crash of the Saurya Airlines plane, according to a statement from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Police stated that all 19 people on board were employees of the airline.
Photos from Nepal police depicted thick smoke rising from the burning aircraft on the airport runway. The plane crashed during takeoff from Kathmandu to Pokhara around 11 a.m. local time, according to Gyanendra Bhul, an information officer at Tribhuvan International Airport, who spoke to CNN.
The aircraft was on its way for technical maintenance, he added. “Rescue operations began immediately and the situation was brought under control,” the aviation authority stated.
The crash underscores the ongoing hazards of air travel in Nepal, often considered one of the most dangerous places to fly due to its mountainous landscape. The Himalayan nation, which hosts eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks including Everest, has a history of air accidents. Weather conditions can change abruptly, and airstrips are usually located in hard-to-reach, mountainous regions.
Despite recent improvements in safety standards, the country continues to face challenges, and the lack of investment in old aircraft exacerbates the risks associated with flying. Last year, Nepal experienced its worst plane crash in over three decades when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed near Pokhara, resulting in the deaths of at least 68 people.
In May 2022, a Tara Air flight that departed from Pokhara crashed into a mountain, killing 22 individuals. In early 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Dhaka, Bangladesh, to Kathmandu crashed upon landing and caught fire, leading to 51 fatalities.
Similarly, in 2016, a Tara Air flight crashed while on the same route as the 2023 incident.
Nancy Mbamalu
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