A devastating plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals.
A Saurya Airlines aircraft veered off the runway and exploded during a routine takeoff, marking a tragic moment with only the captain surviving, as Fox Business reports.
The aircraft, a 50-seat CRJ-200, was en route to Pokhara for maintenance with 19 crew members onboard when it lost control and erupted into flames.
Eyewitnesses reported intense fire and smoke billowing from the wreckage shortly after the mishap. The plane, which carried predominantly Nepali technicians along with a Yemeni national, plummeted off the runway into a fiery disaster.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal detailed the moments leading to the catastrophe. "Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway," officials reported, indicating a potential loss of control by the aircraft.
This sequence of events forced a temporary shutdown of Nepal's main airport, although operations resumed a few hours later.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene amidst the chaos, battling the blaze and searching for survivors. Tragically, the captain emerged as the sole survivor of the horrific event, with the crash claiming the lives of all other passengers and crew members.
Mukesh Khanal, marketing head for Saurya Airlines, expressed uncertainty about the reasons behind the sudden crash. He stated, "It is unclear why it crashed." The lack of immediate explanations adds to the ongoing investigations aimed at uncovering the root causes of such incidents in Nepal's tricky aviation landscape.
The nation's mountainous terrain and variable weather conditions are known to complicate flying, heightening risks even for routine flights. Nepal's aviation safety track record has been under scrutiny following multiple incidents over the years.
Since the year 2000, the aviation industry in Nepal has seen approximately 350 fatalities due to similar aviation incidents, highlighting ongoing safety challenges. The 1992 disaster remains the deadliest, with 167 casualties, underscoring the critical need for rigorous safety protocols and improved aviation practices in the region.
In the wake of the tragedy, the aviation community and the broader public mourn the loss of life while also seeking answers. The focus is now on comprehensive investigations by local and possibly international aviation authorities to prevent future occurrences.
Such repeated tragedies raise questions about the adequacy of current safety measures and the need for stricter enforcement of aviation standards in Nepal.
The tragedy of this crash underscores the ongoing safety challenges faced by Nepal's aviation industry, amid difficult terrain and often unpredictable weather. Efforts to enhance safety measures continue as the nation deals with the aftermath of this catastrophic event, remembering those lost and considering ways to prevent future disasters.
