In a tragic incident this Wednesday morning, a Saurya Airlines flight met with disaster during its departure from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The aircraft was involved in a fatal accident resulting in the loss of 18 lives. The sole survivor of this harrowing crash is Captain Manish Ratna Shakya, the pilot at Saurya Airlines.

The flight, identified by its call sign 9N-AME/CRJ 200, was scheduled to fly to Pokhara with 19 individuals on board. Eyewitnesses reported that the tragedy struck shortly after the plane commenced its takeoff from the southern end of the runway. Suddenly, the aircraft veered off course, tipping dangerously until one wing collided with the ground, causing the plane to catch fire and ultimately crash.

Emergency response teams swiftly arrived at the scene, battling flames and wreckage to rescue any survivors. Among the carnage, Captain Shakya was miraculously pulled from the debris and rushed to KMC Hospital in Sinamangal for urgent medical attention. Despite sustaining injuries, including damage to his eyes, medical professionals have confirmed that Captain Shakya’s condition is stable and he is expected to recover.

Saurya Airlines, a local carrier in Nepal operating with aging Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets, has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of lives. The airline, along with civil aviation authorities, has initiated investigations to determine the cause of this catastrophic incident.