In a frightening incident, at least 18 people lost their lives after the Saurya Airlines Services’ Bombardier CRJ 200 jet crashed at AKthmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal at around 11:15 AM this morning on Wednesday, July 24. There were a total of 19 passengers on the plane, including two crew members and 17 staff members.
Plan Plunges To Ground And Explodes In Fire
The horrifying accident of the plane crash at the Kathmandu airport was also captured on tape. The video shows the plane taking off already in an imbalanced state, soon after reaching some hundred feet above the ground, the plane attempted to tilt to the right and jerked to the left resulting in a fall on the runway. The plane plunged to the ground and exploded in a ball of fire.
Poor Safety Standards And Unpredictable Weather
The actual reason behind the crash is still unknown. However, Nepal’s aviation sector has attributed poor safety standards, inadequate training, and maintenance issues as the cause of the tragic plane crash. The visibility was also low when the crash happened. Another crucial point regarding Nepal’s aviation safety is the unpredictable climate of the region and the topography of the Himalayan country comprising mountainous terrains surrounding high-altitude runways, challenging the trained pilots.
Among 19 Passengers, Pilot The Lone Survivor
The lone survivor among 19 fallen passengers was the pilot of the plane. According to a security official at the airport, the pilot suffered injuries and was rushed to a local hospital after the crash. The Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu which is the primary hub for all international and domestic flights in Nepal has now been temporarily closed. Upon the accident, the European Union banned Nepal’s carriers from entering the EU’s airspace.
Earlier Accidents At The Tribhuvan International Airport
This has not been the first plane accident at the Tribhuvan International Airport in the last few years. In 2019, a Bangladeshi airliner too crashed at the airport which resulted in a horrific number of 51 fatalities. Investigation suggested that the plan was not in alignment with the runway and the pilot was disoriented. Earlier in 2015, a Turkish Airlines jet fell on the runway at the airport due to the fog around the plane. There were 238 passengers on the plane and fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
#BREAKING | Plane crashes at the Tribhuvan International Airport in #Nepal's #Kathmandu #NepalPlaneCrash pic.twitter.com/JYXboY2tvl
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) July 24, 2024