Nepal, Kathmandu: A tragic plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on July 24, 2024, resulted in the deaths of 18 out of 19 people on board a Saurya Airlines flight. The Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft, carrying crew members, technical staff, and passengers, including a mother and her child, caught fire shortly after takeoff en route to Pokhara International Airport. The sole survivor, Captain Manish Raj Shakya, was rescued from a freight container that severed the cockpit from the rest of the plane just before it was engulfed in flames. Authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the crash, including autopsies on the deceased, amid allegations of negligence and technical issues.

Captain Shakya, now receiving treatment at Kathmandu Medical College (KMC), sustained multiple injuries but is in stable condition. Doctors are focusing on his recovery, examining brain scars, and preparing for surgery to treat broken bones. In response to the tragedy, the Nepal government has ordered the national flag to be flown at half-mast and formed a five-member commission, led by former Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Director General Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, to investigate the incident and recommend preventive measures within 45 days.

The crash has incited public outrage and scrutiny over the safety protocols of both Saurya Airlines and Nepal's civil aviation authority. Family members of the victims have accused the airline of pressuring pilots to fly despite known technical problems and questioned the regulator's role in allowing the flight. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has called for urgent action to prevent future tragedies, stressing the need to determine whether the cause was human error or technical failure. Since 1955, Nepal has experienced 914 fatalities in air crashes, underscoring ongoing challenges in the country's aviation sector.