KATHMANDU: Families of the victims of the Saurya Airlines plane crash have voiced their dissatisfaction with the lack of justice and accountability six months after the tragedy.
On July 24, 2024, a Bombardier CRJ200LR operated by Saurya Airlines crashed shortly after take-off from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport during a repositioning flight. The incident claimed the lives of 18 people.
During an interaction organized on Wednesday by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), victims’ families accused the investigation commission of crafting a report intended to shield those responsible.
Umid Bagchan, Vice-President of the FNJ, pledged the federation’s support to the families and committed to pressing the government for legal action against those accountable.
“This culture of impunity must end,” Bagchan said. “There is no greater injustice than fostering conditions that result in loss of life due to negligence or misconduct.”
Senior journalist Prakash Khatiwada, who lost his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson in the crash, described the flight as illegal and claimed the investigation report had been manipulated to conceal financial misconduct by the airline. He has launched a campaign to ensure justice for the victims’ families.
“I lost three members of my family in thistragedy, and I hope no one else has to endure such suffering,” Khatiwada said. “This incident must be investigated impartially. Nepal’s air travel needs to become safer, and collective efforts must ensure that such tragedies are not repeated.”
The victims’ families urged the FNJ and media outlets to advocate for a transparent investigation, action against the guilty, and appropriate compensation for the bereaved families.
They also called for greater accountability to improve aviation safety in Nepal.
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