Tragic Crash of Saurya Airlines Flight 9N-AME Leaves 18 Dead in Kathmandu: Detail Study

Kathmandu, Nepal – July 24, 2024 – A Bombardier CRJ200ER aircraft operated by Saurya Airlines tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 18 out of 19 people on board. The disaster has sent shockwaves through Nepal and beyond as investigations continue into what went wrong on that fateful morning.

Saurya Airlines Flight 9N-AME

Aircraft and Flight Details

The aircraft involved, registered as 9N-AME, was a Bombardier CRJ200ER built in 2003, with manufacturer serial number 7772. Powered by two General Electric CF34-3B1 engines, the plane was initially delivered to Atlantic Coast Airlines before being acquired by Saurya Airlines—formerly known as Kuber Airlines—in 2017.

Flight 9N-AME was scheduled to fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, carrying 17 passengers and two crew members. Tragically, the aircraft never reached its destination. Maintenance on the aircraft had been scheduled for the following day, July 25, 2024, raising questions about whether any mechanical issues might have contributed to the crash.

The accident occurred at approximately 11:15 NPT, just moments after takeoff. Eyewitnesses and video footage reveal that the aircraft lifted only slightly above the runway before banking sharply to one side and crashing. The plane's wingtip reportedly struck the ground first, causing it to catch fire upon impact. The aircraft skidded into a gorge located east of the runway, coming to rest between an aircraft hangar and a radar station.

Firefighters were quick to respond, battling the blaze and working to rescue survivors. Despite their efforts, 18 people, including one Yemeni national, perished in the crash. The sole survivor was the captain, Manish Shakya, who was rescued within minutes and taken to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital. Captain Shakya sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including head and facial wounds, as well as fractured bones in his back.

Eyewitness Accounts and Initial Findings

According to Nepal's Civil Aviation Minister, Badri Pandey, the cockpit was severed from the main fuselage by a freight container just before the plane's main body impacted the ground. The cockpit became embedded in the container, while the rest of the aircraft was carried further down the gorge. Initial investigations suggest that the aircraft made a wrong turn shortly after takeoff, which may have contributed to the crash.

At the time of the accident, visibility in Kathmandu was low, which may have further complicated the takeoff. One airport official reported hearing "cracking noises" coming from the plane before the crash, raising suspicions of a possible mechanical failure.

Tribhuvan International Airport was temporarily shut down in the wake of the disaster, and Saurya Airlines has suspended all flights as the investigation continues. The bodies of the victims were taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for autopsies.

The crash has raised concerns about the safety of air travel in Nepal, a country known for its challenging terrain and weather conditions. As authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy, the families of the victims are left mourning their unimaginable loss.

The aviation community and the public alike await the findings of the ongoing investigation, hoping to understand the factors that led to this devastating crash.