Saurya Airlines aircraft crashed and ignited shortly after departing Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, leading to 18 deaths, including a child. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) verified the incident, which happened during a scheduled maintenance flight.
Gyanendra Bhul, the co-spokesperson for CAAN, reported that two crew members and employees of Saurya Airlines were aboard the plane. The CRJ7 aircraft, registered as 9NAME, departed at 11:11 AM local time for a flight to Pokhara. CAAN indicated that the plane veered right immediately after takeoff and crashed on the east side of the runway, less than a minute after becoming airborne.
In an official statement, CAAN reported, "The CRJ7 (Reg 9NAME) of saurya Airlines took off from Kathmandu at 11:11 am local time during the Pokhara flight and turned right as soon as it took off and crashed at the east side of the runway. Rescue operations were started immediately and the fire was brought under control and the bodies of 18 people were collected and one injured person was rescued. It is reported that he has been taken to the hospital."
Among the 19 people on board, 18 lost their lives, while the captain, Manish ratna Shakya, was rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The co-pilot, Sushant Katuwal, was among the deceased. Most of the passengers were Sourya Airlines employees, with one foreign national identified as Aref Reda, a Yemeni citizen working as an engineer for the airline.
Dinesh Raj Mainali, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, reported that Captain Shakya suffered injuries to his eyes and forehead but is currently in stable condition at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. Nepal Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki confirmed that the injured pilot is "safe."
The director of Tribhuvan International Airport indicated that the aircraft might have veered off course during takeoff, but stressed that the precise reason for the crash remains unknown. An airport official mentioned hearing 'some cracking noises' from the plane. It was noted that the aircraft was engaged in its 'Annual Maintenance Programme' and was performing a 'C-check' or test flight when the incident occurred, with no regular passengers aboard.
Rescue operations were initiated immediately following the crash. The Nepali Army, along with local police and fire services, were deployed to the scene. Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the spot. Moments after the accident, pictures and videos of smoke billowing near the runway surfaced on social media.
saurya Airlines confirmed that one of the deceased is a child, believed to be the son of an employee who boarded the same plane with his wife. The bodies of the victims have been transferred to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for identification and further procedures.
This tragic event adds to Nepal's recent history of aviation disasters. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines flight crashed in Pokhara, claiming 72 lives, with the grim detail that not a single body was recovered. In March 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Bangladesh crashed at the same airport, resulting in 51 fatalities.
The incident has once again raised concerns about aviation safety in Nepal. Authorities have launched an investigation into the crash, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.
Sourya Airlines has released the names of all individuals who were on board the ill-fated flight and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life. The company is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.
As the nation mourns this latest aviation tragedy, questions about air safety protocols and maintenance procedures are likely to be at the forefront of discussions in the aftermath of this devastating event.
