Video Captures Nepal Plane’s Devastating Crash

New Delhi:

A terrifying new video has surfaced showing the moments before a Bombardier CRJ 200 jet crashed at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport around 11:15 am local time. The footage captures the jet’s final seconds before impact.

The video begins shortly after take-off, with the plane already out of control and only a few hundred feet above the ground. Within moments, the Saurya Airlines flight to Pokhara, which was tilting to the right, suddenly veers left and crashes, erupting into flames.

Authorities have confirmed that there were 19 people on board — two crew members and 17 passengers. Tragically, 18 people have died. The sole survivor, the pilot, has been taken to a local hospital, according to an airport security official.

The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.

Earlier today, another shocking video captured the exact moment the plane hit the ground.

This 18-second video, recorded by a CCTV camera at the airport, shows the plane slamming into the runway, skidding across the ground, and bursting into flames.

🔴#BREAKING | Video Shows Exact Moment Plane Crashed At Kathmandu Airport #NepalPlaneCrash#Kathmandu#Nepalpic.twitter.com/saj1eUNN9m

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2024

Nepal’s aviation sector has seen rapid growth recently but is plagued by poor safety standards, inadequate training, and maintenance issues. Consequently, the European Union has banned Nepali airlines from entering its airspace. The country’s challenging topography, featuring high-altitude runways surrounded by mountainous terrain, poses significant risks even for experienced pilots.

The weather in these regions is also notoriously unpredictable, further complicating aviation safety.

In January last year, a Yeti Airlines plane crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 people on board. That incident was Nepal’s deadliest plane crash since 1992 when a Pakistani jet crashed in Kathmandu, killing all 167 passengers. That same year, a Thai Airways flight also crashed, resulting in 113 fatalities.

This recent crash has also drawn attention to the dangers of tabletop runways in India.

Tabletop runways are located on top of hills or elevated terrain, creating a steep drop on one or more sides and leaving very little room for error if a plane overshoots the runway.

India has five airports with tabletop runways — Shimla, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Lengpui (in Mizoram), and Pakyong (in Sikkim). Notably, both Kozhikode and Mangaluru have experienced major crashes.