A small passenger plane crashed and caught fire while taking off from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, killing at least 18 people, Reuters reports.
The aircraft, a Bombardier operated by Saurya Airlines, was en route to Pokhara for aircraft repairs and was carrying two crew members and 17 technicians. Only the captain survived and is receiving medical treatment. Rescue workers were seen searching through the wreckage, and the airport was temporarily closed.
Nepal’s aviation safety record has faced criticism, with nearly 350 fatalities in crashes since 2000, including a notable 1992 crash that killed 167 people and a recent January 2023 crash involving Yeti Airlines that killed 72.
