Pilot Miraculously Survives as Plane Crash Kills 18 in Nepal

In a tragic incident on Wednesday, a plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, claimed the lives of eighteen people, leaving only the pilot as the sole survivor. The Saurya Airlines flight, which was bound for Pokhara, a popular Himalayan tourist destination in western Nepal, crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was carrying 17 employees of Saurya Airlines, including technical staff and two crew members, for what was intended to be a routine maintenance check.

The ill-fated flight took off from Tribhuvan International Airport at approximately 11:15 local time (05:30 GMT). Just minutes into the flight, the aircraft crashed and caught fire, according to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority's search and rescue coordination center. The crash occurred so swiftly that airport chief Jagannath Niraula described it as happening "as soon as it left the ground, in not even a minute."

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and terrifying. One man, who was inside a nearby shop at the time of the accident, recounted the experience: "There was a very loud noise, it sounded like maybe a truck had overturned on the road. We ran after we saw [the crash]. The plane then hit the ground and caught fire. We were about to run to the site but then there was an explosion so we ran away again."

Emergency services, including fire engines and ambulances, rushed to the site of the crash. Despite the rapid response, 17 passengers perished in the accident. The sole survivor, the pilot, was rescued from the burning wreckage and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital for injuries sustained to his eyes and forehead. A police spokesperson assured that while the pilot's injuries are serious, his life is not in danger.

Initial investigations into the crash have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the disaster. However, an initial assessment by the head of Tribhuvan International Airport suggests that the plane may have flown in the wrong direction upon takeoff. "As soon as it took off, it turned right, [when it] should have turned left," Mr. Niraula said.

Footage of the incident shows the aircraft tilting dangerously above the runway before crashing into the ground and erupting into flames. The crash resulted in a fierce fire that engulfed the plane, leaving it completely charred and blackened. Rescue workers faced immense challenges navigating through the wreckage, with some parts of the plane found inside an air freight container.

Among the eighteen victims, seventeen were Nepali nationals, and one was a Yemeni national working as an engineer. The loss of lives has deeply affected the local community, with families mourning the sudden and tragic deaths of their loved ones.

Nepal's aviation industry has long faced scrutiny for its poor safety record. Several factors contribute to this ongoing issue, including challenging weather conditions, difficult terrain, and concerns over regulatory oversight. This latest accident once again highlights the urgent need for improvements in aviation safety measures in the country.

Following the crash, Kathmandu's airport was temporarily closed but reopened within hours, allowing other flights to resume operations. Saurya Airlines' marketing head, Mukesh Khanal, expressed uncertainty regarding the exact cause of the crash, noting that the plane was scheduled for maintenance starting the following day. The airline, along with aviation authorities, is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the reasons behind this tragic accident.

As the investigation unfolds, the families of the victims and the nation of Nepal grapple with the loss of eighteen lives in yet another devastating aviation disaster.