At least five dead in Nepal plane crash

At least five bodies have been recovered after a plane crashed at Kathmandu International Airport during takeoff. The condition of the other fourteen passengers on board the aircraft is currently unknown.

The incident occurred when the plane left the runway while trying to take off, airport spokesman Subash Jha told EFE.

The aircraft, belonging to Nepalese airline Saurya Airlines, was bound for the city of Pokhara, known as a gateway to the Himalayas. The plane crashed on a small hill near the airport, according to images broadcast by Nepalese television Kantipur TV.

The images show the remains of the medium-sized plane, completely burned and surrounded by rescue teams. Several ambulances are present near the site.

Nepal, where air accidents are relatively frequent due to the poor condition of aircraft, poor airport infrastructure, changeable climate and difficult terrain, has been the target of international sanctions for lack of adequate controls. The European Union (EU) has banned Nepalese airlines from entering its territory since 2013.

The most serious accident in Nepal in recent years occurred in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed with 72 people on board, with no survivors, and was attributed to human error.