Tragedy struck Nepal on Wednesday as a Kathmandu-bound Saurya Airlines plane crashed at a local airport, resulting in the deaths of 18 out of the 19 people on board. The passengers, including crew and technical staff, were on their way to Pokhara when the plane caught fire during takeoff. The aircraft, a CRJ200 plane capable of seating 50 passengers, skidded off the runway, failed to gain altitude, and ultimately fell down an embankment leading to the fatal crash. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The incident took place at the Tribhuvan International Airport, a tabletop airport situated atop a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and valleys, making it one of the riskiest airports in the world. Nepal’s air industry has a concerning history of poor safety records, attributed to insufficient training and maintenance practices. This tragic event is reminiscent of past aviation disasters in Nepal, including the 2023 crash of a Yeti Airlines aircraft in Pokhara that claimed the lives of all 72 people on board, and the 1992 crash of a Pakistan International Airlines plane in Kathmandu which resulted in the deaths of all 167 passengers.
As authorities and emergency responders work to manage the aftermath of the crash, the focus remains on determining the cause of the fire and addressing the broader concerns surrounding air safety in Nepal. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those impacted by this terrible tragedy.
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