Relatives of the 18 victims of a plane crash in Nepal are still waiting for information from the government or the airline regarding the cause of the disaster. The crash occurred when a small jet operated by Saurya Airlines went down during take-off at Kathmandu's airport. This incident has highlighted Nepal's poor air safety record, with nearly 360 fatalities in plane and helicopter crashes since 2000.
The crashed aircraft, a 50-seater CRJ-200, was carrying 15 technicians, two crew members, and two family members of a technician to Pokhara for regular maintenance. Only the captain survived the crash, which happened in a field next to the runway and resulted in a fire.
Family members of the deceased, including Krishna Bahadur Magar, whose relative Nava Raj Ale was a ground handler at Saurya and died in the crash, have not been contacted by the airline. Magar expressed frustration, questioning why the airline seemed indifferent to their loss. Many relatives gathered outside the forensic unit of Kathmandu's Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, waiting for the release of the bodies. Some were informed they would not receive the remains until Saturday, and those severely burned would require DNA testing, a process that might take up to two weeks.
Families feel ignored by Saurya Airlines, with Jageswar Giri, whose brother-in-law died in the crash, demanding answers about the technical issues the aircraft faced and why it was sent to Pokhara for maintenance instead of Kathmandu. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) stated that the new airport in Pokhara had maintenance facilities, and it is the airline's duty to communicate with the families. The airline has not responded to inquiries from Reuters. A government investigation panel has been formed and will report its findings within 45 days.
