Last updated on August 28th, 2024 at 11:21 am
Kathmandu: Nepalese authorities retrieved the black box of the plane that crashed on Wednesday, killing 18 people including a child. The black box has been handed over to the investigation probe team into the tragic accident.
Details of Crash and Casualties
The Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft of Saurya Airlines, carrying 19 people, crashed just a few minutes after it took off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. It caught fire and killed 18 people on board and seriously injured the pilot. It included two crew members, technical staff of the airline, and a family of three, including a four-year-old boy.
Investigation Underway
Recovering the black box, Hansa Raj Pandey, the deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, told AFP that the black box had been recovered and handed over to the probe team. The probe team is headed by former director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, Ratish Chandra Lal, along with four other experts. They have been mandated to submit a report along with recommendations within 45 days.
Identification and Repatriation of Victims
Identification and post-mortem processes for the bodies of the victims are currently underway. According to Pandey, they are expected to be handed over to their respective families by Friday.
Sole Survivor’s Condition
The single survivor of the crash, Captain Manish Raj Shakya, is being treated at Kathmandu Medical College. Sources at the hospital say that he is in the Intensive Care Unit but talking. The fact that he survived was because the cockpit had been sheared off by a freight container seconds before the aircraft burst into flames.
Purpose of the Flight
The Saurya Airlines plane was on its way to Pokhara to perform routine maintenance work when the accident occurred.
