- The European Union has banned Nepali airlines from its airspace due to safety concerns.
- This is the latest in a series of fatal plane crashes in Nepal, including a 2023 accident that killed 72 people.
A tragic accident occurred in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday morning, when a Saurya Airlines passenger plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff, erupting into a massive fire.
Emergency responders swiftly sprang into action, battling to extinguish the blaze and rescue those on board.
The incident happened at approximately 11:15 am local time (0530 GMT), according to a statement released by Nepal’s military.
“Rescue work is going on” with the army’s quick response team lending assistance, the statement added.
Further details were “still being confirmed”, Kathmandu airport general manager Jagannath Niroula told AFP.
The Kathmandu Post newspaper said 19 people including air crew were aboard the flight.
News portal Khabarhub reported that the airplane had caught fire after skidding on the runway and was “releasing a significant plume of smoke”.
The plane was en route to Pokhara, an important tourism hub in the Himalayan republic.
Saurya Airlines exclusively flies Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, according to its website.
Nepal’s aviation sector has experienced rapid growth, facilitating transportation to remote regions and catering to adventure seekers.
However, this expansion has been marred by a poor safety record, attributed to inadequate training and maintenance.
As a result, the European Union has imposed a ban on Nepali airlines from operating in its airspace.
The country’s challenging terrain has further exacerbated its struggles with aviation safety, making it a pressing concern.
The Himalayan country has some of the world’s trickiest runways to land on, flanked by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose a challenge even for accomplished pilots.
The weather can also change quickly in the mountains, creating treacherous flying conditions.
Nepal’s last major commercial flight accident was in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines service crashed while landing at Pokhara, killing all 72 aboard.
That accident was Nepal’s deadliest since 1992, when all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane died when it crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport.
Earlier that year a Thai Airways aircraft had crashed near the same airport, killing 113 people.
Authorities have yet to release the identity of those aboard.
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