Nepali Plane Crash Claims 18 Lives, Pilot Survives

A tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday when a Saurya Airlines passenger plane skidded off the runway and exploded shortly after taking off from Kathmandu, resulting in the deaths of 18 individuals. The sole survivor, the aircraft's captain, was promptly taken to a hospital for treatment. The flight, which was carrying 18 Nepali nationals and one Yemeni citizen, was en route to a new airport in Pokhara for routine maintenance work. Eyewitness accounts and video footage captured the catastrophic moment as the aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway. Firefighters were seen battling the flames, with thick black smoke rising into the sky. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal confirmed the details of the crash, while Saurya Airlines' marketing head, Mukesh Khanal, stated that the cause of the accident remains unclear. The incident involved a 50-seat CRJ-200 aircraft and led to the temporary closure of Kathmandu's airport, which was able to resume operations within hours. This crash underscores the ongoing concerns regarding air travel safety in Nepal, a country known for its challenging flying conditions due to mountainous terrain. Since the year 2000, approximately 350 passengers have lost their lives in aviation incidents in Nepal, with the deadliest crash occurring in 1992, which claimed 167 lives. The latest tragedy raises further questions about the safety measures in place for air travel in the region.