Nepal Plane Crash: Wednesday morning saw a terrible plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal, killing 18 out of 19 passengers. A Saurya Airlines aircraft, in the air for Pokhara, encountered disaster barely minutes after takeoff at about 11 am.
Plane Skids and Catches Fire During Ascent
According to TIA spokesperson Premnath Thakur, the plane skidded off the runway during its ascent. The impact caused the aircraft to burst into flames with a thick billow of smoke covering the atmosphere. Panic and screams from the passengers were seen, eyewitnesses said, as the plane crashed and caught fire.
The police and firefighting emergency response teams immediately initiated firefighting and rescue operations. The blaze was tremendous in size, and for the firefighting teams to accomplish the job of extinguishing it, it was very overwhelming. It consumed a lot of time to get rid of the flames and prevent further damage. In the background, billows of smoke rose dramatically, in a somber show of just how bad this situation was.
Rushed to Medical Facility with Serious Injuries
Of the 19 onboard, only the captain, identified as Shakya, survived with serious injuries. The captain was rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The rest of 18 victims are still unidentified, and it has not been fully disclosed to the public as of now; the identity and condition of the deceased are still pending formal identification and notification of next of kin.
The Nepal government responded to the disaster by immediately dispatching military personnel into the town to join the search and rescue operations. Medical teams and army units have been mobilized to support ongoing operations for any survivors and to lend their support with aid. The extent of this blaze and the number of lost souls it has consumed have cast a pall of gloom over the incident, drawing countrywide and international concern and sympathy.
Authorities Probe Factors Behind Kathmandu Plane Crash
Authorities investigate the cause of the crash. According to them, factors are being probed for their possible contributions in making the aircraft fail during takeoff. This incident is one of the most tragic that Nepal remembers ever having witnessed an aviation accident, calling for a lot of review and close attention to safety protocols and emergency response procedures.
The investigation is still on, but all hands are on deck in ways of supporting the family of the victims and making sure such calamity does not occur again. Many hearts are flowing with the victims’ families as the nation sets out to respond to this terrible disaster.
