Investigation will be conducted into Saurya Airlines plane crash: Tourism Minister Pandey

The government is to investigate the Saurya Airlines plane accident that occurred at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey visited the scene following the plane crash and said that an investigation would be conducted into the incident.

He expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.

“It is a tragic incident. I expressed my condolences to the families of those who were killed in the accident,” Minister Pandey said, adding, “We have collected the initial information. Investigation will be conducted soon.”

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak had also reached the accident site to inspect the incident.

After inspecting the incident site, Prime Minister Oli reached the Rescue Coordination Center of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and took the necessary briefing.

An aircraft belonging to Saurya Airlines with call sign CRJ7(Reg 9NAME) crashed at the TIA during takeoff at 11:11 am on Wednesday.

The CAAN confirmed that 18 people were killed in the incident.

Pilot Manish Shakya was rescued alive and taken to the Sinamangal-based KMC Hospital for treatment.

According to the Authority, the plane turned right soon after it took off and crashed at the eastern side of the runway.

The aircraft caught fire following the incident.

The plane was completely destroyed in the fire though the firefighters and security personnel tried to put it out.

Along with pilot Shakya, there were S Dhakal (co-pilot), Amitman Maharjan, Sagar Acharya, Dilip Verma, Manuraj Sharma, Ashwin Niroula, Sudip Lal Joshi, Sarbesh Marasain, Shyam Bindukar, Nawaraj Ale, Raja Ram Acharya, Priza Khatiwada, Adhiraj Sharma, Uddhab Puri, Yagya Prasad Poudyal, Santosh Mahato, Punya Ratna Saahi and Aref Reda on board the ill-fated aircraft with call sign 9 N AME.

The Authority said that all the people lost their lives except pilot Shakya.

It has been learnt that three persons of single family also died in the accident.

Saurya Airlines technician Manuraj Sharma, his wife, Priza Khatiwada and son Adhiraj Sharma died in the same incident.

The aircraft was flying to Pokhara with staffers and technicians for the maintenance of another plane of Saurya Airlines when the tragedy occured.