According to reports, the aircraft, operated by domestic Saurya Airlines, was en route to the resort town of Pokhara from the Nepali capital.

The incident, reported by Gyanendra Bhul, information officer at TIA, involved several technical staff. Smoke was seen billowing from the plane, and firefighters and security personnel rushed to the scene to control the situation.

Recent data suggest 18 passengers were killed in the crash. The pilot, Captain MR Shakya, survived with eye injuries and was transported to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses recounted that the plane flipped during takeoff, with its wing tip striking the ground before catching fire and plunging into a gorge on the eastern side of the runway.

Despite the monsoon season, weather conditions at the time of the crash were not rainy, although visibility was low. The aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-200, one of two such planes operated by Saurya Airlines, both around 20 years old.

Nepal’s aviation history is marred by frequent plane crashes, attributed to its challenging mountainous terrain, outdated infrastructure, unpredictable weather, and poor regulatory oversight. The country’s runways, often surrounded by snow-capped peaks, are considered some of the most demanding in the world.