International Desk, 24th July: In a tragic incident at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the pilot of a Saurya Airlines plane emerged as the lone survivor of a crash that claimed the lives of 18 airline staff members. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff at approximately 11:00 am local time, when the CRJ7 aircraft, registered as 9NAME, was on a maintenance flight to Pokhara.
The plane crashed on the east side of the runway, prompting immediate action from emergency responders who extinguished the ensuing fire and initiated rescue operations. The pilot, identified as 37-year-old Manish Shakya, was pulled from the wreckage and transported to KMC Hospital in Sinamangal for treatment. His condition remains uncertain.
Gyanendra Bhul, TIA’s information officer, clarified that the flight carried only technical staff and no passengers. The plane was bound for maintenance in Pokhara.
Following the crash, TIA halted all inbound and outbound flights, causing significant disruptions. Domestic flights were grounded, and international flights were either put on hold or redirected to other airports. The airport will remain closed until rescue operations are concluded.
Firefighters, Nepal Police, and the Nepali Army are on-site, managing the situation and investigating the cause of the crash.