At least 18 people lost their lives when a plane crashed and caught fire while taking off from Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital.
The ill-fated flight was a test operation conducted by Saurya Airlines and was en route to Pokhara, a popular tourist destination.
Out of the 19 people on board, including technical staff and two crew members, only the pilot survived and is currently receiving treatment in the hospital. The crash occurred at approximately 11:15 local time (05:30 GMT).
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the plane engulfed in flames and smoke shortly after takeoff. Emergency responders, including fire engines and ambulances, quickly arrived at the scene to manage the disaster.
Dan Bahadur Karki, a spokesperson for the Nepali police, confirmed the fatalities to BBC Nepali. An airport official mentioned that unusual “cracking noises” were heard from the plane before the incident.
This crash adds to Nepal’s troubling air safety record. Earlier in January 2023, a Yeti Airlines crash claimed at least 72 lives after the pilots mistakenly cut power to the engines.
Saurya Airlines, which operates flights to five destinations within Nepal, has a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets, as stated on their website.
