In a tragic incident, a plane crash in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, resulted in the loss of 18 lives. The Saurya Airlines test flight, carrying 17 employees and two crew members, crashed and caught fire during takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport. Miraculously, the pilot, who sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment in hospital, was the sole survivor of the fatal accident.

The ill-fated flight was on its way to Pokhara, a popular tourism destination in the Himalayas, as part of a routine maintenance check. However, just a few minutes after leaving the ground at around 11:15 local time, the aircraft crashed into the ground, engulfed in flames and smoke.

Eyewitnesses near the crash site described a loud noise, similar to an overturned truck, followed by the horrifying sight of the plane hitting the ground and immediately catching fire. The intensity of the situation forced them to retreat from the area. Photos of the aftermath revealed the charred and blackened remnants of the aircraft, with parts even found inside an air freight container.

While the exact cause of the crash has not been confirmed by airport authorities, an initial assessment suggests that the plane veered in the wrong direction after takeoff. The head of Tribhuvan International Airport stated that the aircraft should have turned left, but instead turned right, leading to the tragic accident.

Nepal's aviation industry has long been plagued by a poor safety record, attributed to various factors such as unpredictable weather and lax regulations. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks involved in air travel within the country. It is concerning that the crash occurred during a test flight, which raises questions about the effectiveness of safety protocols.

Among the victims, 17 were Nepali nationals, while one was a Yemeni engineer working for Saurya Airlines. The airline's marketing head, Mukesh Khanal, conveyed that the plane was scheduled for maintenance starting the next day, making it unclear as to why the crash occurred.

Following the accident, Kathmandu's airport temporarily closed but later reopened. Authorities have now launched an investigation into the incident in order to determine the precise cause of the crash.

Nepal has experienced several devastating aviation disasters in the past. The most recent was in January 2023 when 72 individuals lost their lives in a Yeti Airlines crash due to pilot error. The country's deadliest air crash occurred in 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed on approach to Kathmandu Airport, claiming the lives of all 167 people on board.

Saurya Airlines, the operator of the ill-fated flight, runs flights to five destinations within Nepal and operates three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets.

As the nation mourns the loss of 18 lives, efforts are underway to clean up the crash site and provide support to the families affected by this tragic incident.