Tragic Plane Crash Claims 18 Lives in Nepal.
Nepal:
A devastating air tragedy unfolded on Wednesday as a small plane, shortly after departing from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, crashed, resulting in the loss of at least 18 lives. According to national aviation officials, the pilot miraculously survived but sustained serious injuries, receiving urgent medical treatment at a nearby hospital.
The incident occurred around 11:15 local time, with reports indicating that a fire erupted on board soon after takeoff, leading to the aircraft plummeting to the ground on the airport’s east side. Swift emergency response teams managed to bring the ensuing blaze under control and promptly commenced rescue operations.
Heart-wrenching videos circulating online captured the plane nosediving at a steep angle, its left wing sharply pointing upwards, before tragically crashing and becoming engulfed in flames. The crash site quickly saw an influx of rescuers, fire brigades, and ambulances in a desperate bid to save lives.
Authorities confirmed that among the 19 individuals on board, tragically, only the pilot survived. The victims, predominantly Nepali nationals, included technical staff and crew members of Saurya Airlines, the operator of the ill-fated flight. Photos released by Nepali police depicted the injured pilot being extricated from the wreckage, visibly in pain but conscious.
The flight was bound for Pokhara, a beloved tourist haven nestled amidst Nepal’s awe-inspiring Himalayan landscapes. The incident underscores Nepal’s historical aviation challenges, marked by subpar safety standards exacerbated by unpredictable weather conditions.
This catastrophe marks one of Nepal’s deadliest air disasters in recent memory, eclipsed only by the tragic Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara last year, claiming 68 lives, and a harrowing incident in 1992 near Kathmandu that resulted in 167 fatalities. The country has witnessed 44 fatal plane crashes since 1946, as documented by the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety database.
As Nepal mourns this profound loss, investigations into the crash are underway, with authorities striving to ascertain the exact causes behind this heartrending incident.
