Nepal Hands Over Bodies of Saurya Airlines Crash Victims

Except Yemeni National

Kathmandu [Nepal], July 28: Nepal has handed over the bodies of 17 out of 18 victims of the Saurya Airlines crash to their respective families, according to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey.

Responding to questions about aviation safety and the plane crash, Pandey informed the lower house of parliament that efforts are being made to hand over the body of the deceased Yemeni national through the closest embassy.

He stated, “In the crash, 18 people died on the spot and the captain of the aircraft has been injured and is undergoing treatment at Kathmandu Medical College. As of now, he is out of danger, as per the doctors involved in the treatment. Till now, except for the Yemeni national, all the remaining bodies (17) have been received by the families and next of kin.”

During the ‘Urgent Time’ session of the lower house of the Federal Parliament, lawmakers emphasized the need for relevant agencies to be more responsible and accountable for these incidents. They highlighted the urgency of addressing not only the rise in airplane and bus accidents but also the issues of road blockades caused by landslides and flooding.

Many lawmakers stressed the necessity for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to play a more active regulatory role in preventing air accidents. They also called for a thorough investigation into the Saurya Airlines plane crash, urging the government to take necessary measures to prevent future aviation accidents.

A total of 18 people died when a Saurya Airlines aircraft crashed at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on July 24. The plane, with registration number 9N-AME, was on a flight to Pokhara and took off from Kathmandu at 11:11 am local time. The plane turned right and crashed on the east side of the runway. The fire was brought under control, and rescue work started immediately. The dead bodies of 18 people were recovered, and one injured person was rescued and taken to the hospital.

The pilot of the Saurya Airlines plane is the lone survivor of the crash. The plane was only carrying technical staff of the airline, with no passengers on board.