Kathmandu, Nepal: A Saurya Airlines aircraft crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Wednesday. According to Nepal Police, at least 15 people have died while four others were rescued. .
Footage from the spot showed dramatic scenes of the plane speeding down the runway before a fire broke out with high flames and thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage.
The pilot survived the crash and was taken to the Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for treatment, a doctor attending him told news agency Associated Press. The doctor added that the pilot has received injuries to the eyes but he is out of danger.
While the fire that broke out from the aircraft, was put off, police and firefighters carried out rescue operations at the accident site.
Saurya Airlines is a domestic carrier with a fleet of just 3 airplanes, all Bombardier CRJ 200. Each aircraft has a capacity of 50 passengers.
In 2019, a Bangladeshi airliner crashed at Tribhuvan Airport, resulting in 51 fatalities while 20 passengers survived. An investigation revealed that the plane was misaligned with the runway, and the disoriented pilot attempted to land in “sheer desperation” before the crash occurred.
(Source: NEWS18)
