Sole Survivor: Pilot Escapes Deadly Nepal Plane Crash

A tragic plane crash in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people on Wednesday when the aircraft burst into flames during takeoff.

The pilot, currently hospitalized, is the only one who survived the devastating crash.

There were 19 people aboard the Saurya Airlines test flight, including technical staff and two crew members.

The flight was en route to Pokhara, a well-known tourist destination.

Online videos show the plane engulfed in flames and smoke. Firefighters and emergency medical teams responded promptly to the scene.

The crash occurred around 11:15 local time (05:30 GMT), just minutes after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport, according to a statement from the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority’s search and rescue coordination center.

The statement detailed that the plane “veered right and crashed on the east side of the runway.”

The statement also noted that the fire was quickly contained and rescue operations began immediately.

“18 bodies were recovered, and one injured individual was transported to the hospital,” it added.

Nepali police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki confirmed the fatalities to BBC Nepali.

An airport official reported hearing “some cracking noises” from the aircraft.

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