18 Killed in Saurya Airlines Plane Crash in Kathmandu.

A Saurya Airlines plane bound for Pokhara crashed and caught fire during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The tragic accident claimed the lives of 18 individuals, with the pilot being the sole survivor currently receiving medical treatment.

The flight, carrying only the airline’s technical staff, had 19 people on board, including two crew members. The incident occurred around 11:15 local time, just minutes after takeoff. According to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority’s search and rescue coordination centre, the plane experienced a runway excursion, leading to the fatal crash.

Rescue workers were seen navigating through the wreckage, with large sections of the plane completely charred. Initial images showed the aircraft engulfed in fire and smoke. Fire engines and ambulances were promptly dispatched to the scene. Among the deceased, 17 were Nepali nationals, and one was a Yemeni engineer working with the airline. TIA Spokesperson Subash Jha confirmed the details, noting that thick smoke was visible from the airport as police and firefighters conducted rescue operations.

Nepal has a poor air safety record, averaging about one flight disaster annually. Since 2010, the country has experienced at least 12 fatal plane crashes, including this latest incident. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines flight crashed near Pokhara, killing all 72 people on board. Saurya Airlines, a moderate local airline, operates flights to five destinations within Nepal using a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets.