Nepal plane crash Highlights: A domestic plane with 19 people on board “veered off” the runway and crashed Wednesday while trying to take off from the airport serving Nepal's capital Kathmandu. As many as 18 people were killed in the crash. The pilot is the lone survivor in the crash.
Nepal's aviation authority said that Saurya Airlines Aircraft took off from Tribhuvan International Airport (VNKT) on Wednesday, July 24, to Pokhara International Airport (VNPR). “Shortly after takeoff from runway, the aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway,” it explained
Local media images showed smoke rising and plane wreckage scattered all over a ditch. A fire has been brought under control. Tribhuvan International Airport, the main airport in Nepal for international and domestic flights, has been closed as emergency crews worked. It is the monsoon rainy season in Kathmandu, but it was not raining at the time of the crash. Visibility was low across the capital. Saurya Airlines operates the Bombardier CRJ 200 on domestic routes.
News agency ANI shared visuals from the Maharajgunj Medical Campus in Kathmandu as people mourned the demise of their loved ones in the place crash that happened on Wednesday.
Authorities of Nepal's aviation said that on July 24, Wednesday, Saurya Airlines Aircraft took off from Tribhuvan International Airport (VNKT) at 11:11 Nepali Standard Time (NST) to Pokhara International Airport (VNPR).
“Shortly after takeoff from runway 02, the aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway. Rescue operations were initiated immediately. The fire was brought under control, one injured person (Captain Manish Ratna Shakya) was rescued and taken to the hospital, and 18 People were found dead,” the aviation authority added.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal released names of 18 people who died in the Saurya Airlines plane crash. Check names below.
Nepal's Kathmandu airport reopens after being temporarily shut following plane crash that killed 18 - official
Nepal plane crash LIVE: Nepal has been criticised for a poor air safety record, and nearly 350 people died in plane or helicopter crashes in the Himalayan country since 2000, according to Reuters.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: The plane involved in Wednesday's accident was a Mitsbushi CRJ-200 aircraft. Its passenger carrying capacity is 50 passengers. The airline has two aircraft in its fleet, reported Bloomberg citing Flightradar24 data.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: The bodies of deceased passengers staff have been taken to the TU Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for autopsy. According to AP, there were two pilots in the plane. The 17 passengers and staff included one female crew and one foreigner.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: “CRJ7 (Reg-9NAME) of Sourya Airlines took off from Kathmandu at 11:11 am local time during the flight to Pokhara, turned right and crashed at a place on the east side of the runway. It is reported that the fire was brought under control and the rescue work was started immediately. The dead bodies of 18 people were recovered and 1 injured person was rescued and taken to the hospital,” Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu said in a statement.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: All the passengers staff, except the pilot, on the Saurya aircraft died after it crashed at Kathmandu airport on Wednesday. "Eighteen bodies have been recovered, including one foreigner," police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki told AFP.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: Kathmandu airport closed its operations on a temporary basis after a small plane carrying 19 passengers staff on board crashed on Wednesday.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: According to Nepal Police, nearly 15 bodies have been recovered so far from the aircraft, carrying 19 people, which crashed at Kathmandu airport.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: The domestic aircraft with 19 people on board slipped off the runway and crashed while it was trying to take off from the airport in Kathmandu. The survived pilot was taken to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: After the accident, the pilot has been rescued and is undergoing treatment, police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki told AFP. However, many have not survived, he added.
Nepal plane crash LIVE: At least 18 bodies recovered from small plane that caught fire after skidding of runway in Nepal, reported Reuter citing official.
At least five people were killed after a small plane caught fire after skidding off the runway while taking off from Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Wednesday, media and officials said as reported by Reuters.
An aircraft with nineteen passengers onboard crashed while taking off at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, on Wednesday.