Plane Crashes in Nepal with 19 Aboard, Several Dead

AFP/APP

Kathmandu: A passenger plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff in Kathmandu on Wednesday. 

The pilot survived, but “many” others aboard are dead, according to Nepali police. The Saurya Airlines flight, which was carrying two crew and 17 staff members for a test flight, crashed around 11:15 am (0530 GMT). 

Images from the aftermath show the plane’s fuselage split apart and burnt. The plane was scheduled to fly on Nepal’s busiest air route between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Nepal’s aviation safety record is poor, with frequent deadly crashes due to insufficient training and maintenance. 

The European Union has banned Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns. Nepal’s last major commercial flight accident was in January 2023, and earlier incidents include a Thai Airways crash and a PIA crash, both near Kathmandu.