On July 24, Wednesday, the Saurya Airlines flight carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff. The accident killed 18 people, with the pilot being the sole survivor. The plane was en route to Pokhara, an important tourism hub in the Himalayan Republic.
The plane caught fire after skidding on the runway. This crash happened around 11:00 am at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. The police and firefighters were involved in rescue efforts.
Authorities pulled out 18 bodies
Among the 19 people, the Saurya Airlines flight carried a two-member crew and 17 of the company’s staff members for a test flight. Basanta Rajauri, the police official, said they pulled out 18 bodies.
Pilot, the only survivor, got an injury in his eyes and was taken to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for treatment. The rest of the bodies were taken to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for autopsy.
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Himalayan country: World’s trickiest runways to land on
In January 2023, Nepal’s last major commercial flight accident was the deadliest since 1992. A Yeti Airlines service crashed while landing at Pokhara, killing all 72 aboard.
In 1992, Pakistan International Airlines approaching Kathmandu airport crashed on its way and killed all 167 people aboard. In the same year, a Thai Airways aircraft crashed near the same airport and killed 113 people. The Himalayan snowcapped peaks and dynamic weather conditions make the flying conditions treacherous and landing difficult for even the most experienced pilots.
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Images of the aftermath shared by the ministry
The images of the aftermath, which were shared by Nepal’s military, showcased the plane’s fuselage splitting apart and burning to a husk. A dozen soldiers were seen gathering around on top of the wreckage, with the surroundings coated in fire retardant.
Immediately after the plane crashed at around 11:15 am (0530 GMT), the army’s quick response team assisted in rescue efforts.
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Ms Anuja Choudhary is a public policy enthusiast and Master in Philosophy from LSR, DU. With a keen eye for authenticity, she is currently honing her craft as a writer to pen down the voices with utmost sincerity and integrity.
