Tragic Plane Crash in Nepal: 18 Lives Lost, One Pilot Survives

Tragic Plane Crash in Nepal Claims 18 Lives

A domestic aircraft tragically crashed on Wednesday while taking off from the airport serving Nepal’s capital, resulting in the loss of 18 lives and leaving one pilot as the sole survivor. Police official Basanta Rajauri confirmed that emergency responders have retrieved all 18 bodies from the wreckage.

The lone survivor, the pilot, was promptly transported to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for medical attention. Doctors reported that while the pilot sustained injuries to the eyes, there is no immediate danger to his life.

The airline manifest revealed that there were two pilots and 17 passengers aboard the ill-fated flight. Among the passengers, there was only one female, while the crew and 16 passengers were predominantly Nepali nationals. One passenger was identified as a foreigner, although their nationality has not been disclosed.

The aircraft, operated by Saurya Airlines, was en route from Kathmandu to the popular resort town of Pokhara when the incident occurred. The exact circumstances leading to the crash remain unclear at this time.

Local media outlets have reported images displaying smoke rising from the crash site, with debris scattered across a nearby ditch. Fortunately, the fire that erupted has since been brought under control.

As emergency crews worked tirelessly at the scene, Tribhuvan International Airport—the main hub for both international and domestic flights in Nepal—was temporarily closed to facilitate rescue operations. Although it is currently the monsoon season in Kathmandu, it was not raining at the time of the crash. However, visibility in the capital was reportedly low.

Saurya Airlines operates the Bombardier CRJ 200 aircraft on various domestic routes. The Kathmandu airport, situated within a valley and surrounded by mountainous terrain, is recognized as a challenging location for pilots. Larger aircraft must navigate through a narrow opening in the mountains to land safely. Furthermore, the airport is located adjacent to residential neighborhoods.

This incident is reminiscent of previous aviation tragedies in the region. In 2019, a Bangladeshi airliner crashed at Tribhuvan airport, resulting in the deaths of 51 individuals, while 20 others on board survived. An investigation revealed that the plane was misaligned with the runway and that the pilot was disoriented, attempting to land in a state of “sheer desperation” before the crash occurred.

Additionally, in 2015, a Turkish Airlines jet skidded off a slippery runway while landing in dense fog at the same airport. That aircraft was carrying 238 passengers, but fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported.