As many as 19 people, including the crew members, were on board the plane bound for Pokhara. The accident occurred around 11 AM, TIA spokesperson Premnath Thakur was quoted as saying by Nepali news website Kathmandu Post. Police and firefighters are carrying out rescue operations at the accident site.
The cause of the accident and casualties are still unknown. Five bodies have been recovered from the crash site so far. Captain Manish Shakya (37), pilot of the plane, has been rescued and sent to hospital.
Plane crashes during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Updates to follow. #Kathmandu #PlaneCrash #Nepal pic.twitter.com/XFpMbQwAGR
— Sarkarihelpline.com (@SarkariHelpline) July 24, 2024
According to South Asia Time, the plane skidded off the runway during takeoff and crashed. The aircraft burst into flames immediately after the crash. Firefighters and security personnel are on the scene to douse the flames and search for survivors.
#WATCH | Plane crashes at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal’s Kathmandu
Details awaited pic.twitter.com/DNXHSvZxCz
— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2024
