A recent Saurya Airlines accident resulted in one survivor, as confirmed by the Civil Aviation Authority. Among the passengers were 18 Nepalese employees and one Yemeni national. The police indicated that all individuals on board were linked to the airline.
Images shared by the Nepali police show thick smoke emanating from the burning aircraft on the airport runway. The plane crashed during takeoff from Kathmandu, heading to Pokhara, around 11 AM local time, according to Gyanendra Bhul, a spokesperson for Tribhuvan International Airport.
The flight was reportedly on its way to conduct technical maintenance. Immediately following the crash, rescue operations were launched, and the situation was brought under control, stated the aviation authority.
This incident highlights the persistent dangers of air travel in Nepal, often regarded as one of the riskiest regions to fly due to challenging terrain. The Himalayan country is home to eight of the world’s fourteen highest peaks, including Mount Everest, and has a history of aviation accidents. Sudden weather changes and remote landing strips add to the difficulties faced by pilots and airlines.
On July 24, 2024, a Saurya Airlines aircraft caught fire at the Kathmandu airport. (Credit: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)
According to a 2019 safety report from the Civil Aviation Authority, aircraft with 19 seats or fewer are more likely to experience accidents under these challenging conditions. Despite recent improvements in safety regulations, significant challenges remain, including a lack of investment in aging aircraft, which increases flight risks.
In recent years, Nepal has seen some of its worst aviation disasters. Last year, at least 68 people died in the deadliest airplane crash in over three decades when a Yeti Airlines flight went down near Pokhara. A similar tragedy occurred in May 2022 when a Tara Air flight departing Pokhara crashed into a mountain, claiming 22 lives. Earlier incidents, including a 2018 crash of a US-Bangla Airlines flight and another Tara Air accident in 2016, illustrate the ongoing safety concerns in the Nepali aviation sector.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
For more details, visit CNN’s original article.
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