News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/24th July 2024
On Wednesday, a tragic plane crash occurred in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, resulting in the deaths of 18 individuals. The accident involved a Saurya Airlines flight en route to Pokhara when it crashed shortly after takeoff. The sole survivor of the disaster was the aircraft’s pilot.
Eyewitness footage captured the harrowing scene as firefighters battled the flames and thick black smoke billowed into the sky from the crash site near the airport. The aircraft, which was ascending just above the runway, abruptly tilted and plummeted, leading to a temporary closure of the airport.
Rescue efforts were underway as emergency personnel sifted through the wreckage scattered across green fields. The scene was chaotic with local residents observing as bodies were transported to ambulances on stretchers. The deceased were later taken to T.U. Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for autopsy.
According to the airline’s manifest, there were 19 people on board, including two pilots and 17 passengers. Among the passengers, only one was a female, while the rest were Nepali nationals, except for one foreigner whose nationality has not been disclosed.
Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal’s primary airport, was shut down in response to the crash. This airport, which handles both international and domestic flights, is situated in a valley surrounded by rugged mountains, posing a significant challenge for pilots. Larger aircraft must navigate a narrow gap in the mountainous terrain to land safely.
Despite the ongoing monsoon season in Kathmandu, there was no rain at the time of the incident, though visibility was reportedly poor across the city. The crash has brought attention to the complex and hazardous conditions associated with operating flights in the region, further underscoring the challenges faced by aviation authorities and pilots in Nepal.
