At least 18 people died after a small plane skidded off the runway in the Nepalese capital on Wednesday (24), according to local authorities.
One person survived the Saurya Airlines crash, the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. All on board — 18 Nepalese and one Yemeni national — were employees of the carrier, police said.
Images from Nepal police showed thick smoke billowing from the burning aircraft on the airport runway.
The aircraft crashed during takeoff from Kathmandu to the city of Pokhara at around 11 am local time, the CNN Gyanendra Bhul, Information Officer at Tribhuvan International Airport.
The plane was on its way for technical maintenance, he added.
“Rescue efforts were initiated immediately and the situation was brought under control,” the aviation authority said.
The accident once again highlights the dangers of air travel in Nepal, a country often referred to as one of the riskiest places to fly due to multiple factors including its mountainous terrain.
The Himalayan country, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Everest, has a record number of plane crashes. The weather can change suddenly and airstrips are often located in mountainous areas that are difficult to access.
Aircraft with 19 or fewer seats are more likely to suffer accidents due to these difficulties, according to a 2019 safety report from the Civil Aviation Authority.
While the country has made improvements to safety standards in recent years, challenges remain and the lack of investment in older aircraft only increases the risks of flying.
Last year, Nepal saw its worst plane crash in more than 30 years when at least 68 people died when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed near Pokhara.
In May 2022, a Tara Air flight departing from Pokhara crashed into a mountain, killing 22 people.
In early 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines flight from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka to Kathmandu crashed on landing and caught fire, killing 51 people.
And in 2016, a Tara Air flight crashed while flying the same route as the 2023 accident.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
