According to Gyanendra Bhul, co-spokesperson for CAAN, the ill-fated aircraft carried two crew members and 17 technical staff. The flight, identified as CRJ7 with registration number 9NAME, had taken off from Kathmandu at 11:11 AM local time, bound for Pokhara. Tragically, moments after departure, the plane veered right instead of the intended left turn, leading to the crash on the eastern side of the runway.
Rescue operations were launched immediately, with personnel from the Nepal Police and the Civil Aviation Authority swiftly responding to the scene. Amidst the chaotic aftermath, one pilot was miraculously rescued and promptly transported to Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital for treatment. The authorities reported that the pilot had sustained injuries to his eyes and forehead but was in stable condition.
In an official statement, the Civil Aviation Authority detailed the rescue efforts, confirming that the fire, which erupted post-crash, was quickly brought under control. The bodies of the 18 victims were recovered from the site. The aircraft was undergoing an ‘Annual Maintenance Programme’ at the time, and the crash site was located in the northern part of Tribhuvan Airport.
This incident has brought back painful memories of past aviation disasters in Nepal. Notably, in March 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Bangladesh to Nepal crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport, resulting in the loss of 51 lives. Nepal has a history of aviation accidents, often attributed to its challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions.
The head of Tribhuvan International Airport, Jagannath Niraula, provided some insights into the preliminary assessment of the crash. He mentioned that the aircraft had taken a wrong turn immediately after takeoff. “The plane was supposed to take a left turn, but it turned right,” Niraula told. He emphasized that the exact cause of the accident would be determined after a thorough investigation, but initial observations pointed to the incorrect turn being a critical factor.
Eyewitnesses and officials at the scene recounted hearing cracking noises from the aircraft just before it went down. Within moments, social media was flooded with images and videos of smoke billowing from the crash site, painting a grim picture of the disaster.
Sourya Airlines, in a statement, mentioned that the flight was a technical one, with no regular passengers, as the aircraft was undergoing a C-check, a comprehensive inspection and maintenance procedure. Ambulances, fire engines, and rescue teams from the Nepali Army were dispatched to the scene to assist in the rescue and recovery operations.
Dineshraj Mainali, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, confirmed the pilot’s rescue, noting that the injured pilot was receiving medical care. Dan Bahadur Karki, spokesperson for Nepal Police, added that some of the bodies had been transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajganj for post-mortem examinations.
This recent crash is part of a troubling pattern of aviation incidents in Nepal. Just in January 2023, a Yeti Airlines ATR 72 aircraft crashed near Pokhara International Airport, killing all 72 people on board. In May 2022, an Air passenger TwinOtter plane crashed en route from Pokhara to Jomsom, resulting in 22 fatalities.
The country’s aviation sector has seen numerous tragedies over the years. In April 2019, a Summit Air plane collided with two helicopters at Lukla Airport, claiming three lives. February 2019 witnessed the death of seven people, including Nepal’s then Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari, in an Air Dynasty helicopter crash near Pathibhara in Taplejung.
Other notable accidents include a September 2018 Altitude Air helicopter crash that killed six, a February 2016 Tara Air flight crash claiming 23 lives, and several other deadly incidents dating back to 2006, reflecting a concerning trend in Nepal’s aviation safety record.
The frequent crashes have raised significant concerns about aviation safety standards in Nepal. The country’s challenging topography and often unpredictable weather conditions make flying particularly hazardous. These incidents have prompted calls for stringent safety measures and improved training for flight crews to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As investigations continue into the Sourya Airlines crash, the focus remains on understanding what went wrong and how similar accidents can be prevented. The aviation community and the families of the victims are left grappling with yet another heartbreaking loss, hoping for answers and reforms that could avert further calamities in Nepal’s skies.
