18 killed when Saurya Airlines plane crashes in Nepal
A Bombardier CRJ 200 aircraft belonging to Saurya Airlines crashed Wednesday just after taking off from Nepal’s capital, killing 18 people and injuring a pilot who was the lone survivor.
Police official Basanta Rajauri said authorities have pulled out all 18 bodies. The pilot has injuries to his eyes but his life is not in any danger, said a doctor at Kathmandu Medical College Hospital, where the pilot is being treated.
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A press statement issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said the Saurya Airlines domestic plane, which was scheduled to head to the resort town of Pokhara, took off at 11:11 a.m. local time from Kathmandu airport and turned right but crashed moments later in the eastern section of the airport.
It is monsoon rain season in Kathmandu but was not raining at the time of the crash. Visibility was low across the capital, however.
The Kathmandu airport, the main airport serving Nepal, is located inside a valley surrounded by mountains on most sides. It is considered a challenging airport for pilots and bigger planes have to come through an opening on the mountain to land. It is right next to the city, and is surrounded by houses and neighborhoods.
On board the plane were two pilots and 17 passengers on board, the airline said. The pilots and 16 passengers were Nepalese nationals and one passenger was identified as a Yemeni national.
With information from AP
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