A tragic plane crash at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport has claimed the lives of 18 people. The Saurya Airlines aircraft, carrying 19 individuals, burst into flames shortly after skidding off the runway, as captured in a dramatic video clip that surfaced on social media Wednesday.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the ill-fated plane was transporting two crew members and 17 technicians to Pokhara city for aircraft repairs. Tragically, only the captain survived and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital, according to Tej Bahadur Poudyal, spokesperson for Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport.
Television footage showed firefighters battling the intense blaze, with thick black smoke rising into the sky. The video also depicted the plane flying just above the runway before tilting and crashing. Rescue workers were later seen sifting through the charred remains of the aircraft, which were scattered across lush green fields. Bodies were carried to ambulances on stretchers as local residents looked on.
Officials identified the plane as a Bombardier and confirmed it belonged to local Saurya Airlines. The airport was temporarily closed following the crash. Saurya Airlines operates domestic flights in Nepal with two Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets, both around 20 years old, according to Flight Radar 24.
Nepal has been heavily criticized for its poor air safety record, with nearly 350 fatalities resulting from plane or helicopter crashes since 2000. The deadliest incident occurred in 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crashed into a hillside while approaching Kathmandu, killing 167 people. More recently, at least 72 people were killed in a Yeti Airlines crash in January 2023, attributed to pilot error.