A total of 18 people were killed after a Pokhara-bound plane crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Nepal. A video showing the moment when the Saurya Airlines plane nosedived, crashed and burst into flames has been accessed.
Eyewitnesses at the crash site reported that the plane took off from the southern end of the runway, then veered and struck the ground with its wing.
After the impact, the aircraft caught fire and crashed on the eastern side of the runway. Footage from the spot showed dramatic scenes of the plane speeding down the runway before a fire broke out with high flames and thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage.
The plane’s wreckage has been recovered with the bodies of 18 individuals. At least 19 people, including aircrew, were aboard the private Saurya Airlines plane which met with the accident at around 11 am. The pilot survived the crash and was transported to Kathamandu Medical College Hospital for treatment. The piolot has been identified as Captain Manish Shakya.
An unnamed doctor at the hospital reported that while the pilot has eye injuries, he is not in critical condition. The plane was traveling from Kathmandu to the resort town of Pokhara.
TIA Spokesperson Subash Jha said, ‘The accident occurred after the Pokhara-bound flight suffered a runway excursion during takeoff’.
According to the media reports, ‘The plane was only carrying technical staff of the airline. There were no passengers on board but the plane was carrying few technical staff’.
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