Nepal: Plane Crash Kills 18, Pilot Lone Survivor

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Facts

• A passenger plane with 19 people onboard crashed Wednesday just after taking off from Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, killing 18 people and injuring the pilot.¹
• A doctor at Kathmandu Medical College Hospital told The Associated Press that the plane's pilot sustained injuries to his eyes, but said his life was not in danger.²
• The plane, operated by Nepal's Saurya Airlines, had been carrying two crew members and 17 technicians to Pokhara airport for regular maintenance.³
• According to an initial assessment, the head of Tribhuvan International Airport said the plane had flown in the wrong direction, adding, 'As soon as it took off, it turned right, [when it] should have turned left.'⁴
• The Tribhuvan International Airport — situated on top of a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and valleys — is one of the most dangerous airports in the world.⁵

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Associated Press, ³Reuters, ⁴BBC News and ⁵NDTV.com.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by India Today. Nepal has one of the world's worst records for aviation safety. Not only is this due to poor training and maintenance, but the country is one of the most challenging places to fly, as mountain peaks and rugged geography often surround runways.
• Narrative B, as provided by Mint. The cause of Wednesday's tragic crash hasn't been ascertained yet, and it's unfair to blame all of Nepal's air tragedies solely on its infrastructure. The aviation industry and pilots must cope with extraordinary challenges in this terrain, which must always be kept in mind.

Predictions