18 dead in plane crash

A Saurya Airlines plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 18 people, including 17 technicians and two crew members. The pilot is the sole survivor and is currently hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Witnesses reported that the aircraft veered off the runway and caught fire, with flames and thick smoke visible from the wreckage. This incident highlights the ongoing issues of aviation safety in Nepal, which has a troubling history of plane crashes, prompting the European Union to ban all Nepali airlines from its airspace. The flight was reportedly intended for technical maintenance purposes, and authorities have since shut down the airport as investigations commence. The plane was equipped with Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, a model used exclusively by Saurya Airlines.