19 aboard Saurya Airlines flight as it crashes during takeoff in Nepal

Passenger plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, on Wednesday morning. Fire crews are currently working to extinguish the flames from the wreckage.

The Saurya Airlines plane crashed at around 11:15 am local time (0530 GMT), according to a statement from Nepal’s military.

“Rescue work is ongoing,” the statement added, noting that the army’s quick response team is assisting in the efforts.

Further details are “still being confirmed,” Kathmandu airport general manager Jagannath Niroula told AFP.

According to The Kathmandu Post newspaper, 19 people, including the air crew, were on board the flight.

News portal Khabarhub reported that the airplane caught fire after skidding on the runway and was “releasing a significant plume of smoke.”

The plane was heading to Pokhara, a key tourism hub in the Himalayan republic.

Saurya Airlines operates exclusively with Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, as per its website.

Nepal’s aviation industry has grown significantly in recent years, serving both remote areas and foreign tourists. However, the industry has been plagued by safety concerns due to inadequate training and maintenance.

The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over these safety issues.

Nepal’s challenging geography contributes to its poor aviation safety record. The country has some of the world’s most difficult runways to navigate, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and requiring skilled approaches. The weather in the mountains can also change rapidly, creating hazardous flying conditions.

Nepal’s last major commercial flight accident occurred in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 people on board. This was the deadliest aviation accident in Nepal since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed near Kathmandu airport, killing all 167 passengers. Earlier that same year, a Thai Airways aircraft also crashed near Kathmandu airport, resulting in 113 fatalities.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of those on board.