PLANE INFERNO Horror moment jet plummets into the ground & blows up after failed take-off killing 18 & leaving pilot the only survivor
THIS is the horrifying moment a plane crashes in Nepal before blowing up and bursting into flames - leaving 18 people dead.
Chilling footage captured the passenger jet nosediving towards the ground after a failed take-off that killed everyone on board but the pilot
Heart-stopping footage shows the aircraft uncontrollably spiralling towards a gorge in Kathmandu just moments after it took off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The Saurya Airlines jet slams into the ground, erupting into a fireball as it skids along the eastern side of the runway.
Thick, black smoke can be seen billowing from the plane as onlookers gasp in disbelief.
The aircraft was heading from Kathmandu to the resort town of Pokhara when it crashed on Wednesday morning, Nepal Television reports.Most of the 19 people onboard were airline employees, officials say.
The sole survivor, Captain MR Shakya, has been rushed to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital, a TIA spokesperson said.
He injured his eye in the crash but - miraculously - his wounds are not life-threatening.
The co-pilot was found dead, say reports.Out of the 17 passengers on board, 16 were from Nepal with only one female passenger.
The recovered bodies have been taken to TU Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for autopsies.Horror images show the scorched remains of the small plane surrounded by emergency workers and shocked witnesses.
Onlookers were seen scrambling across a field where the plane came down to help search for survivors.
Saurya Airlines typically use the Bombardier CRJ 200 on all domestic routes.
Investigations into what caused the plane to crash onto the runway are ongoing.
Initial reports point towards the flight suffering a runway excursion on takeoff, officials said.
The airport has been closed as emergency services and the Nepalese military help to clear the wreckage.
It comes as the European Union has banned all Nepalese carriers from flying over its airspace over recent safety concerns.
The country suffers from a poor safety record due to a lack of training for pilots and dwindling maintenance.
The weather and rocky terrain can also cause havoc for even the most experienced pilots.
At least 12 fatal jet crashes have been recorded in the Himalayan region since 2010.Horror images show the scorched remains of the small plane surrounded by emergency workers and shocked witnessesNepal's largest crash in recent years came in January 2023 when 69 passengers and crew were killed in a horror accident.
The Yeti Airlines service crashed while landing at Pokhara with a chilling video showing passengers on board just moments before the crash.
Nepal's chilling history with aviation disasters
NEPAL is one of the most dangerous countries to fly an aircraft in with a number of major safety concerns posing issues for even the most experienced pilots.
Almost 380 people have been killed in 19 air disasters in Nepal in the last 25 years - here is a list of the horror crashes.
JULY 24, 2024 - At least 18 people killed after a failed takeoff from Kathmandu airport caused the plane to crash into the runway and explode into a fireball
JULY 11, 2023 - Six people killed in a helicopter crash in central Nepal after setting off from a mountainous region near Mount Everest
JAN 15, 2023 - All 72 passengers onboard a twin-engine ATR 72 jet were found dead after the plane crashed in Pokhara
MAY 29, 2022 - Sixteen Nepalis, four Indians and two Germans all died just 15 minutes after they took off from Pokhara
FEB 27, 2019 - A fatal helicopter crash in bad weather in eastern Nepal, killing all seven people on board
MARCH 12, 2018 - Bad weather caused an aircraft in Kathmandu to crash land leaving 51 people dead out of 71 passengers
FEB 24, 2016 - A small plane crashed in bad weather killing all 23 people on board in a flight to western Nepal
FEB 16, 2014 - Eighteen people died after a crash in adverse weather conditions
SEPT 28, 2012 - A small plane hit a bird mid-flight before crashing shortly after takeoff in Kathmandu leaving killing 19 dead including seven Brits
SEPT 25, 2011 - A plane heading to Mount Everest crashed in poor weather near Kathmandu, killing all 19 people
DEC 16, 2010 - Twenty two people died after a plane crashed into the Himalayan foothills of east Nepal
AUG 24, 2010 - Bad weather caused a fatal crash that left fourteen people killed
OCT 8, 2008 - A plane collided with the remote mountains of northeast Nepal killing at least 18 people
MARCH 4, 2008 - A tragic helicopter crash left 10 people dead
JUNE 21, 2006 - A Twin Otter passenger plane crashed minutes before landing killing all nine people on board.
MAY 25, 2004 - Three people travelling towards Mount Everest were killed in a crash
AUG 22, 2002 - A tourist plane smashed into a mountain after the pilot was left with poor visibility, resulting in 18 deaths
JULY 17, 2002 - Four people died after a twin-engined aircraft crashed into a mountain in west Nepal minutes before it was due to land.
JULY 27, 2000 - Twenty five people on board a jet tragically lost their lives
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