Crash in Nepal: 18 dead as plane goes down during take-off
A ghastly accident in Nepal. A small aeroplane crashed to the ground, killing all the passengers except the pilot. Social media has captured the moment when the aircraft hit the ground.
A Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft crashed on Wednesday morning during takeoff. The Nepalese Saurya Airlines aircraft had 19 people on board, including the crew. According to the airport spokesperson, the plane was to depart from the capital for the city of Pokhara in central Nepal.
The airport was closed during the rescue operation. Local media reported that the bodies of 18 people, passengers and crew members, were found. Only the pilot survived and was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Terrifying recordings
Social media received footage capturing the moment of the disaster. In one, the climbing aeroplane abruptly starts descending and crashes to the ground, with clouds of smoke rising over the airport.
Footage from the rescue operation shows that the aircraft was almost completely burnt out.
As Reuters recalled, Nepal has been repeatedly criticised for its lax approach to adhering to aviation regulations and safety rules. In January 2023, 72 people died in a Yeti Airlines plane crash, which was attributed to pilot error as they mistakenly cut off the power in the aircraft.
