Plane crash at Nepal’s Kathmandu airport kills 18; pilot only survivor

Catastrophe Strikes at Tribhuvan International Airport

A devastating aviation disaster unfolded at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on the fateful morning of July 24, 2024. The calamity resulted in the untimely demise of 18 individuals, leaving the pilot as the solitary survivor of the tragic incident.

Unraveling the Details of the Incident

The ill-fated aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ200 operated by Saurya Airlines, was on a routine takeoff from Kathmandu, destined for Pokhara, a beloved haven for tourists. Onboard the flight were 19 souls, including two crew members and 17 technicians en route for maintenance duties. Mere moments after the plane ascended into the sky at 11:11 AM local time (05:26 GMT), it veered disastrously to the right, colliding with the eastern expanse of the airport. Eyewitnesses recounted the horrific sight of the plane igniting in flames upon its abrupt departure from the runway. Swift and valiant, emergency responders and firefighters converged on the scene, battling the inferno and undertaking rescue operations.

Casualties and Sole Survivor

Of the 19 individuals aboard the aircraft:

• 18 lives were tragically extinguished, comprising 17 Nepali nationals and one Yemeni national.
• The pilot, remarkably, emerged as the lone survivor and was promptly conveyed to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for urgent medical attention. According to attending medical personnel, the pilot sustained injuries to the eyes but fortunately, his condition is not deemed critical.

Investigation and Temporary Airport Closure

In the aftermath of the catastrophe, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal inaugurated an investigation to unearth the root cause of the accident. Consequently, Tribhuvan International Airport, the nation’s principal aviation gateway, was temporarily shuttered for several hours to facilitate emergency and investigative operations.

Aviation Safety Context in Nepal

This grievous event casts a somber shadow over Nepal's aviation safety landscape:

• The nation has been plagued by numerous fatal mishaps involving light aircraft and helicopters in recent history.
• Contributing factors include insufficient training, substandard maintenance, treacherous topography, and volatile weather conditions.
• A poignant reminder of these hazards was the crash of a Yeti Airlines flight in Pokhara in January 2023, which claimed 72 lives.

The burgeoning growth of Nepal’s aviation sector juxtaposes starkly with persistent safety concerns, underscored by the country's mountainous terrain and swiftly changing weather patterns. This latest disaster starkly highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Nepal’s aviation industry and underscores the imperative need for stringent safety measures and regulatory enhancements to avert future calamities.