On Wednesday, a Saurya Airlines aircraft crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. According to Premnath Thakur, spokesperson for TIA, nineteen people, including the aircrew, were aboard the plane bound for Pokhara when the accident occurred around 11 AM. Rescue operations at the accident site are currently being conducted by police and firefighters.
It is reported that the incident occurred due to the aircraft skidding off the runway, veering out and crashing in an empty field. Currently, there are no reports of any casualties in this incident. Rescue operations are underway at the accident site, with a crowd of people gathered there.
18 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of the crashed aircraft. The pilot, Captain Manish Shakya (37), has been rescued. He sustained severe injuries and has been taken to Sinamangal Hospital for treatment. The ill-fated Saurya Airlines flight 9N-AME, a Mitsubishi CRJ-200ER, also had a few technical staffers aboard.
Smoke is rising from the incident site at the airport where a fire has broken out. Security personnel and airport firefighters are actively working to extinguish the fire.
Witnesses reported that the plane attempted to take off from the southern end of the runway but suddenly tilted to one side, causing its wing tip to strike the ground. This impact resulted in the plane catching fire and crashing, after which it plummeted into a gorge on the eastern side of the runway.
