Nepal Plane CRASH: 1 Escape From Fiery Runway Plunge?

The Saurya Airlines plane, which was headed to Pokhara, crashed at a Nepal airport on Wednesday, resulting in the recovery of 18 out of 19 passengers’ bodies. The flight, carrying crew and technical staff, caught fire around 11 a.m. after skidding off the runway during take-off. The Nepal military reported that the plane burst into flames as it began its ascent.

The CRJ200 aircraft, which has a 50-passenger capacity, failed to gain altitude during takeoff, skidded off the runway, and plunged down an embankment before catching fire. Videos from the scene near Tribhuvan International Airport show a large blaze and thick smoke. Firefighters and the Nepal army are on-site, but the cause of the fire is still unknown. The Tribhuvan International Airport is a tabletop airport situated on a plateau surrounded by deep gorges, making it one of the world’s most hazardous airports.

Nepal’s aviation industry is known for its poor safety record, marked by inadequate training and maintenance. In 2023, a Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara killed all 72 people aboard, including five Indians. This was Nepal’s deadliest aviation incident since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed on approach to Kathmandu, killing all 167 passengers.