A Saurya Airlines Bombardier CRJ-200ER crashed shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, resulting in 18 fatalities. The aircraft, carrying 19 people, including two pilots and 17 technicians, was en route to Pokhara for scheduled maintenance when it veered off course and crashed.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aircraft, registration 9N-AME, departed from runway 02 at approximately 11:11 local time (06:26 UTC). Moments after liftoff, the plane banked steeply to the right, nearly reaching a vertical wing position, before losing altitude and impacting the ground to the right of the runway.
Airport chief Jagannath Niraula told BBC Nepali, “As soon as it took off, it turned right, [when it] should have turned left.”
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Rescue operations commenced immediately following the crash. The captain, who sustained injuries to his eyes and forehead, was the sole survivor and is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital. The remaining 18 occupants, including 17 Nepali nationals and one Yemeni engineer, were found deceased at the scene.
The airline confirmed that all individuals on board were company employees.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud noise resembling an overturned truck, followed by an explosion. The crash site was engulfed in flames, with rescue workers navigating through the charred wreckage.
This incident has once again drawn attention to Nepal’s aviation safety record. The country has faced criticism for its air safety standards, particularly given the challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions in which many of its airlines operate.
In response to the tragedy, Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli visited the crash site and called for patience as investigations proceed. An emergency cabinet meeting was convened to form a panel tasked with investigating the incident.
Saurya Airlines, founded in 2014, operates a fleet of two CRJ-200 aircraft (including 9N-AME) serving five domestic destinations within Nepal.
The accident temporarily closed Kathmandu’s airport, but operations resumed within hours.
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