Tragic Plane Fire Claims 18 Lives During Takeoff, Pilot Sole Survivor.

SOURCE: Pulse.com.gh

18 out of 19 die as plane bursts into flames during takeoff; only pilot survives.

The ill-fated flight, en route to Pokhara for routine maintenance, was carrying 17 airline employees, including technical staff, and two crew members. The crash occurred at approximately 11:15 local time (05:30 GMT), just minutes after departing from Tribhuvan International Airport, according to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority’s search and rescue coordination centre.

Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud noise before the aircraft hit the ground and ignited. One man recounted, “It sounded like a truck had overturned. The plane hit the ground and caught fire, then there was an explosion.” Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki informed BBC Nepali that the pilot sustained injuries to his eyes and forehead but is not in critical condition. Airport chief Jagannath Niraula stated the crash occurred almost immediately after take-off, adding that preliminary assessments suggested the plane had veered in the wrong direction. Footage from the incident showed the plane tilting above the runway before crashing and being engulfed in flames and smoke. Rescue workers were seen navigating through the charred wreckage, with parts of the aircraft found inside an air freight container. Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene.

The passengers included 17 Nepali nationals and one Yemeni engineer. The head of marketing for Saurya Airlines, Mukesh Khanal, mentioned that the aircraft was scheduled for a month-long maintenance beginning Thursday. The reason for the crash remains unclear. Kathmandu’s airport temporarily closed following the crash but reopened within hours. Nepal’s aviation sector has faced criticism for its safety record, with factors such as unpredictable weather and lax regulations often cited. The country witnessed its deadliest air crash in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed, killing at least 72 people.

Saurya Airlines operates flights to five destinations within Nepal, utilizing a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets, as stated on the company’s website.

Key Points:

• The flight was headed to Pokhara for routine maintenance.
• The crash occurred minutes after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport.
• Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud noise before the crash.
• The plane veered in the wrong direction before crashing.
• 17 Nepali nationals and one Yemeni engineer were onboard.
• The pilot sustained non-critical injuries.
• Emergency services quickly responded to the crash.
• The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
• Nepal’s aviation sector has a history of safety concerns.
• Saurya Airlines operates with a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets.

The ill-fated flight, which was en route to Pokhara for a routine maintenance check