Solar Airlines plane crash: A local news portal in Nepal said the plane caught fire and billowed smoke after skidding off the runway.

Kathmandu: At least 18 people were killed and several others injured when a Solar Airlines plane crashed during take-off at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday. A video capturing the exact moment of the plane crash has gone viral on social media.

According to police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki, only the pilot survived the accident and he is undergoing medical treatment.

Solar Airlines plane crash: Watch the video

Terrible Tragedy… Atleast 15 killed in Nepal plane crash… Last year in January 2023, 72 people were killed when a Yeti Airlines plane crashed near Pokhara… This time the Saura Airlines plane was also on its way to Pokhara. #NepalAircrash pic.twitter.com/TFA0jabKKb

— Rohit Vishwakarma (@RohitVEditor) 24 July 2024

A dramatic video has surfaced on social media capturing the exact moment when a Solar Airlines plane crashed. In the video clip, the plane is seen engulfed in flames shortly after skidding off the runway.

The plane crashed at 11:15 a.m. local time (0530 GMT), as confirmed by the Nepal Army in an official statement.

According to a local news outlet, the Kathmandu Post, the plane was carrying 19 passengers, including the pilot, to Pokhara, a major tourist destination in the Himalayas.

How did the Solar Airlines plane crash?

Another local news portal, Khabarhub, said the plane caught fire and billowed smoke after skidding off the runway.

It should be noted that Surya Airlines operates exclusively with Bombardier CRJ 200 jets, as mentioned on their website. Although Nepal's aviation sector has developed recently, expansion has been hampered by poor safety standards, inadequate training and maintenance issues.

Recently, the European Union has banned all Nepalese carriers from flying through its airspace due to security concerns. Notably, Nepal's challenging geography, along with its high-altitude runways, pose major challenges for most experienced pilots.

The plane was on its way to Pokhara from Kathmandu when the accident occurred, Himalayan Times reported. The Himalayan Times, quoting Tribhuvan International Airport Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul, reported that only the airline's technical staff was on board during take-off. It is reported that there were 19 people in the plane.

Earlier in January 2023, a Yeti Airlines plane with 68 passengers and crew had crashed in Pokhara Nepal. All 68 passengers died in this accident.