Nepal Plane Crash: Pilot Sole Survivor Among 18 Fatalities

Pilot Only Survivor in Nepal Plane Crash that Kills 18

A tragic plane crash in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, has claimed the lives of at least 18 people after the aircraft caught fire while taking off on Wednesday. The pilot, currently receiving treatment in the hospital, is the sole survivor of the accident.

The Saurya Airlines test flight carried 19 individuals, including technical staff and two crew members, when it crashed. Nepal’s aviation sector is known for its poor safety record, which has been linked to various factors, including unpredictable weather and lax regulations.

The ill-fated flight was en route to Pokhara, a popular tourist destination. Videos circulating online showed the plane engulfed in flames and smoke, with fire engines and ambulances swiftly responding to the scene.

According to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority’s search and rescue coordination center, the incident occurred at around 11:15 local time (05:30 GMT), mere minutes after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport. The plane reportedly "turned right and crashed on the east side of the runway." The authority confirmed that the fire was quickly controlled and rescue operations commenced immediately.

Eighteen bodies have been recovered, with the lone survivor being transported to the hospital. Among the deceased, 17 are Nepali nationals, and one is Yemeni.

Airport chief Jagannath Niraula stated to BBC Nepali that the accident occurred almost immediately after the plane left the ground. However, the cause of the crash remains undetermined. Nepali police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki also confirmed the fatalities to BBC Nepali. An airport official mentioned hearing "some cracking noises" from the aircraft.

Nepal’s air safety record has faced criticism. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines crash killed at least 72 people, attributed to the pilots mistakenly cutting the power, marking the deadliest air crash in Nepal since 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crash killed all 167 aboard while approaching Kathmandu Airport.

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