A devastating plane crash occurred in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, on Wednesday morning, involving a passenger plane with 19 people on board.
News About Nigeria reports that the aircraft, operated by Saurya Airlines, crashed during takeoff and burst into flames.
Emergency responders are working to extinguish the fire and rescue those on board.
“Rescue work is going on” with the army’s quick response team lending assistance, the statement added.
Further details were “still being confirmed”, Kathmandu airport general manager Jagannath Niroula told AFP.
The plane was headed to Pokhara, a popular tourist destination.
Nepal’s aviation industry has experienced rapid growth but faces concerns over safety due to inadequate training and maintenance.
The country’s challenging geography and unpredictable weather conditions add to the risks.
But it has been plagued by poor safety due to insufficient training and maintenance.
The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns.
Nepal’s woeful record on aviation safety has been compounded by its treacherous geography.
The Himalayan country has some of the world’s trickiest runways to land on, flanked by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose a challenge even for accomplished pilots.
This incident follows a series of fatal plane crashes in Nepal, including a tragic accident in January 2023 that claimed 72 lives.
That accident was Nepal’s deadliest since 1992, when all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane died when it crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport.
Earlier that year a Thai Airways aircraft had crashed near the same airport, killing 113 people.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of those involved in the latest crash.
