2024-07-25 22:45:14
At least 18 people were killed when a small plane skidded off a runway in Nepal’s capital on Wednesday, authorities said.
One person survived the crash of a Saurya Airlines plane, the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. Police said all those on board – 18 Nepalese and a Yemeni national – were airline employees.
The plane crashed while taking off from Kathmandu to the city of Pokhara at around 11 a.m. local time, Gyanendra Bhool, an information officer at Tribhuvan International Airport, told CNN.
The plane was heading for maintenance, he added.
“Rescue operations were started immediately and the situation was brought under control,” the aviation department said.
BREAKING : At least 19 people died after Plane crashes during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. pic.twitter.com/0Gq4CZCOJ4
— Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras) July 24, 2024
The crash once again highlights the dangers of air travel in Nepal, a country often cited as one of the riskiest places to fly due to a variety of factors, including its mountainous terrain.
The Himalayan country, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Everest, has a record number of air crashes. The weather can change suddenly and the runways are usually located in remote mountain areas.
Planes with 19 or fewer seats are more likely to crash because of these difficulties, according to the Civil Aviation Authority’s 2019 Air Safety Report.
While the country has improved safety standards in recent years, problems remain, and a lack of investment in aging aircraft only increases the risks of flying.
Earlier, Cursor wrote about why you should never lean your head against the window on an airplane.