Tragedy struck at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Wednesday as a Saurya Airlines plane crashed during takeoff, resulting in at least 18 casualties and one survivor.
Tragedy struck at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Wednesday as a Saurya Airlines plane crashed during takeoff, resulting in at least 18 casualties and one survivor. The Pokhara-bound flight, carrying 19 people including crew members, suffered a runway excursion and slipped off the runway.
TIA Spokesperson Subash Jha confirmed that the accident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to take off from the southern end of the runway, near Koteshwor. Eyewitnesses reported that the plane suddenly flipped, with its wing tip hitting the ground, before catching fire and plunging into a gorge between the Buddha Air hangar and the radar station on the eastern side of the runway.
मिति २०८१।०४।०९ गते त्रिभुवन अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विमानस्थल, गौचर काठमाण्डौमा भएको सौर्य एयरलाइन्सको विमान दुर्घटना पश्चात उद्धार कार्यमा नेपाल प्रहरी pic.twitter.com/0t2OAh2DZK
— Nepal Police (@NepalPoliceHQ)Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene, where thick billows of smoke were visible from the wreckage. Police and firefighters are continuing rescue operations at the crash site.
Nepal : Saurya Airlines CRJ-200 had crashed on take-off at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Intl Airport(VNKT), Nepal with 19 people on board. The flight was bound for Pokhara. More to come.. pic.twitter.com/1Pk4xxo40g
— Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras)According to a post by Nepal Police on X (formerly Twitter), 18 Nepalese, all employees of Saurya Airlines on their way to Pokhara for maintenance, died in the crash.
The pilot, Captain MR Shakya, reportedly survived the crash and was rushed to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for treatment. According to reports quoting a doctor at the hospital, who was not authorized to speak to the media, Captain Shakya sustained injuries to his eyes but is not in danger.
१३:०० बजे
२०८१/०४/०९ गते ११:०० बजे त्रिभुवन अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विमानस्थलमा सौर्य एयरलाइन्सको विमान दुर्घटना सम्बन्धमा थप विवरण
सवार: १९ जना (१८ जना नेपाली र १ जना यमन नागरिक, मर्मतको लागि पोखरा जान लागेको, सम्पूर्ण सौर्य एयरलाइन्सका कर्मचारीहरू)
मृत्यु- १८,
उद्दार- १ pic.twitter.com/N5MlSSUfpy
Local media images show extensive damage, with wreckage scattered across a ditch and a fire that has since been brought under control. The cause of the crash remains unclear, and an investigation is underway to determine how the plane slipped off the runway.
Om Shanti https://t.co/aXxuxvCKdG
— Sandeep (@sandeepg1979)UPDATE: Five Bodies Recovered From Nepal Plane Crash, Captain Rushed To Hospital - Airport Spox
Subash Jha told that five bodies have been recovered from the crash site and Captain MR Shakya is undergoing emergency medical treatment.
Unverified videos on social… https://t.co/L0W4WcIMfV pic.twitter.com/xby9vXISFQ
Tribhuvan International Airport, the main hub for both international and domestic flights in Nepal, has been closed as emergency crews continue their work. The crash occurred during the monsoon season in Kathmandu, but it was not raining at the time. However, visibility across the capital was low.
Saurya Airlines, which operates the Bombardier CRJ 200 on domestic routes, has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.