2024 Saurya Airlines CRJ-200 crash
 | This article documents a recent aviation accident. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (July 2024) |
 9N-AME, the aircraft involved in the accident | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 July 2024 |
| Summary | Crashed shortly after take-off, under investigation |
| Site | Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Bombardier CRJ-200 |
| Operator | Saurya Airlines |
| Registration | 9N-AME[1] |
| Flight origin | Tribhuvan International Airport |
| Destination | Pokhara International Airport |
| Occupants | 19 |
| Passengers | 17 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 18 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Survivors | 1 |
On 24 July 2024, a Bombardier CRJ-200 operated by Saurya Airlines crashed shortly after take-off at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, killing 18 out of 19 people on board.[2]
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-200, with manufacturer serial number 7772 and registration 9N-AME. The aircraft was built in 2003.[1][3]
The flight the plane was operating was intended to fly from Tribhuvan International Airport located in Kathmandu to Pokhara and was carrying two flight crew members as well as 17 technicians employed to conduct routine maintenance on the aircraft.[2] Saurya Airlines said that maintenance on the aircraft was due to formally begin on 25 July.[4]
Crash
The crash occurred on 24 July 2024 around 11:15 NPT shortly after the aircraft took off from the runway,[4] lifting only slightly above the runway before it rolled onto its side and crashed. Footage and eyewitness accounts indicated that the plane took off from the runway's southern side located in Koteshwor, making a sharp bank and falling with its wing tip striking the ground first. The plane caught fire on impact and skidded into a gorge east of the runway between an aircraft hangar and a radar station.[5] Footage of the incident showed firefighters to put out the blaze while attempting to rescue survivors.[2]
Eighteen people were killed in the crash, including one foreign (Yemeni) citizen.[6][7][8] The pilot, Manish Shakya, was the only survivor of the crash following the initial impact and fire, and was taken to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital.[4][9] He was described as not being in a life-threatening condition but sustained injuries to his eyes and forehead.[4][10]
There was low visibility in Kathmandu at the time of the accident.[10] One airport official reported that "cracking noises" seemed to come from the plane prior to the crash.[4]
Passengers and crew
Due to the impact of the the crash, only one of the nineteen on board survived the disaster.[11] The pilot was identified as Manish Shakya, while the copilot was identified as Sushant Katuwal.[12][13]
| Nationality | Passengers | Crew | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 16 | 2 | 18 |
| Yemen | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 17 | 2 | 19 |
Aftermath
Tribhuvan International Airport was temporarily shut down following the disaster.[2] The bodies of the deceased were taken to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for an autopsy.[10]
Investigation
The head of Tribhuvan International Airport said that initial investigations showed that the aircraft took off in the wrong direction.[4]
See also
- List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft
- List of airplane accidents in Nepal
- Yeti Airlines Flight 691
- Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268
References
- ^ a b "18 dead as plane crashes in Kathmandu, pilot survives, taken to hospital". India Today. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ a b c d "At least 18 dead in Nepal plane crash, officials say". Reuters. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ "Accident Canadair CRJ-200ER 9N-AME, Wednesday 24 July 2024". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ a b c d e f "Pilot only survivor of fatal Nepal plane crash". BBC. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ "Saurya Airlines aircraft crashes during takeoff in Kathmandu". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ "Nepal: Plane crashes in Kathmandu with 19 on board". DW. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ "List of passengers of crashed Saurya Airlines". The Rising Nepali. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ "Saurya Airlines plane crash: One among 18 dead victims identified as Yemeni national". The Rising Nepal. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ "VIDEO | Nepal Plane Crash: Moment when flight with 19 people onboard crashed at Kathmandu airport captured". WION. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ a b c "Plane crashes just after takeoff from Nepal's capital, killing 18 people. Pilot is lone survivor". Associated Press. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ "Nepal: Plane crashes in Kathmandu with 19 on board". DW. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ "List of passengers of crashed Saurya Airlines". The Rising Nepal. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ "Saurya Airlines plane crash: One among 18 dead victims identified as Yemeni national". The Rising Nepal. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
