Kathmandu: In a tragic incident early this morning, a Pokhara-bound Saurya Airlines aircraft met with an accident at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The aircraft, which was carrying 19 passengers including crew members, skidded off the runway and caught fire shortly thereafter.
According to Gaurav Kumar KC, Spokesperson of the Nepali Army, security personnel from all three security agencies have been mobilized to control the fire. The swift response of the emergency services is currently focused on extinguishing the flames and ensuring the safety of everyone on board.
Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has arrived at the scene to oversee the rescue operations and take stock of the situation. Authorities are yet to provide detailed information about the cause of the accident and the condition of the passengers and crew.
The incident has caused significant disruption at Tribhuvan International Airport, with flight operations temporarily halted. Passengers and airline staff are anxiously awaiting updates as rescue efforts continue.
This accident marks a somber day for Nepali aviation, raising concerns about safety protocols and the need for stringent measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. The government is expected to launch a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the crash and implement necessary improvements to aviation safety standards.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has confirmed the death of 18 people aboard the Saurya Airlines aircraft which crashed at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
A total of 19 people, including two crew members, were in the Pokhara-bound flight, with registration number 9NAME, which took off from Kathmandu at 11:11 am, the aviation authority said.
The police reported that one of the passengers had been a Yemeni citizen. The aircraft had suffered a runway excursion and plunged into a gorge on the eastern side of the airport.
Captain MR Shakya was rescued from the crash site and has been admitted to the KMC Hospital in Sinamangal for treatment, Nepal Police said.
According to the Nepal Police, most of the passengers were airline staff travelling to Pokhara for aircraft maintenance.
