Mumbai, July 24: A Saurya Airlines aircraft crashed on July 24 during its takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. The accident took place at approximately 11 AM local time. En route Pokhara, the flight carried 19 individuals, including the aircrew. Reportedly, 18 people were killed in the crash. The lone survivor is the plane's pilot, Captain Manish Shakya.

Captain Manish Shakya is a 37-year-old pilot. The team rescued Shakya and took him to a nearby hospital, KMC. A spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, SSP Dinesh Raj Mainali, said, "Captain Manish Shakya was rescued at 11:34 and taken to KMC Hospital. He can speak. He has an eye injury." Nepal Plane Crash Caught on Camera: Video Shows Exact Moment When Saurya Airlines’ Aircraft Crashed During Takeoff in Kathmandu.

As per a report by The Economic Times, Nepal has a concerning history of plane crashes. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines flight near Pokhara killed all 72 people on board. In May 2022, a Tara Air crash in Mustang resulted in 22 deaths. In 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines flight at Tribhuvan International Airport led to 51 fatalities. Nepal Plane Crash Videos: Saurya Airlines Aircraft With 19 Onboard Crashes During Takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

The Mitsubishi CRJ-200ER aircraft ignited on impact, with Khabarhub noting that it was "emitting a large cloud of smoke." Emergency services swiftly put out the fire. Police and firefighters are currently carrying out rescue operations. The bodies recovered from the crash site have been transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Meanwhile, SSP Mainali has stated that information about the individuals on board is still pending. 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2024 02:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).