Nepal officials have announced that the pilot of the ill-fated Nepalese plane is the only one to have survived the crash that left 18 people dead.
"Only the captain was rescued alive and is receiving treatment at a hospital," said Tej Bahadur Poudyal, the spokesman for Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport.
Nepal's military reported that the Saurya Airlines aircraft went down at around 11:15 a.m. (0530 GMT). Fire crews are battling the blaze from the wreckage, and the army's quick response team is assisting in rescue efforts.
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According to Kathmandu airport's general manager, Jagannath Niroula, details of the incident are still emerging. The Kathmandu Post confirmed that 19 people, including the aircrew, were aboard the flight. The plane reportedly caught fire after skidding on the runway.
The aircraft was en route to Pokhara, a major tourist destination in the Himalayan region. According to its website, Saurya Airlines operates exclusively with Bombardier CRJ 200 jets.
Nepal's aviation sector has grown rapidly in recent years, facilitating travel to remote areas and attracting trekkers and climbers. However, the industry is marred by poor safety records due to inadequate training and maintenance. The European Union has banned Nepali carriers from its airspace over these safety concerns.
Nepal's challenging geography exacerbates aviation safety issues. Difficult runways surrounded by snow-capped peaks pose significant challenges even for experienced pilots. Rapidly changing weather conditions in the mountains further complicate flying.
The country's last major aviation disaster occurred in January 2023 when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 people on board.
This was Nepal's deadliest incident since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed near Kathmandu, resulting in 167 fatalities. Earlier that year, a Thai Airways aircraft also crashed near Kathmandu, killing 113 people.
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