Written By Lisa Murimi
A tragic plane crash on Wednesday morning resulted in the death of 18 people shortly after takeoff from Nepal’s capital. The sole survivor, the pilot, is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital.
The Saurya Airlines test flight, carrying 19 individuals including technical staff and two crew members, was bound for Pokhara, a popular tourist destination.
The incident occurred around 11:15 local time (05:30 GMT), minutes after departure from Tribhuvan International Airport.
Nepal’s aviation industry has long been plagued by a poor safety record, often attributed to unpredictable weather and lax regulations. The Nepal Civil Aviation Authority’s search and rescue coordination center confirmed the crash.
Airport chief Jagannath Niraula informed BBC Nepali that the accident “happened as soon as it left the ground, in not even a minute,” and initial assessments indicate the plane flew in the wrong direction. “As soon as it took off, it turned right, [when it] should have turned left,” Niraula stated.
Rescue workers sifted through the wreckage, with large portions of the plane charred and blackened. Seventeen of the deceased were Nepali, and one was a Yemeni engineer. Witnesses reported the plane engulfed in fire and smoke, with emergency services responding swiftly.
This crash follows a history of air disasters in Nepal, including a Yeti Airlines crash in January 2023 that killed 72 people, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the country’s aviation sector.
