Thursday, January 15th, 2026

Pilot of Saurya Airlines: “Aircraft could not ascend beyond 100 feet”



KATHMANDU: Pilot Manish Ratna Shakya, the sole survivor of the Saurya Airlines plane crash, is currently receiving treatment at Sinamangal-based Kathmandu Medical College.

The hospital reports that Shakya’s health is gradually improving, and he is now able to speak.

The tragic accident involved a Saurya Airlines aircraft carrying 19 people, which crashed shortly after taking off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), resulting in the loss of 18 lives on Wednesday.

In a conversation with medical staff, Shakya recounted the moments leading up to the crash.

Prof. Dr. Mina Thapa, the hospital director, shared that Shakya described the aircraft’s failure to maintain altitude after reaching approximately 100 feet above the runway.

“We couldn’t gain further altitude after the aircraft reached around 100 feet. It suddenly began descending,” Shakya recounted, according to Dr. Thapa.

“After it started to descend, I lost control, and when we hit the ground, I lost consciousness.”

Shakya was rescued by security personnel following the crash.

Publish Date : 25 July 2024 16:04 PM

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