Nepalese authorities have recovered the black box from the Saurya Airlines aircraft that crashed on Wednesday, a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 18 people, including a child. The black box, which is crucial for investigating the cause of the crash, has been handed over to a specialized probe team formed to scrutinize the accident.
The Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft, bound for Pokhara, crashed shortly after taking off from Tribhuvan International Airport. The plane, which was carrying 19 individuals, including two crew members and technical staff, caught fire upon impact. The deceased include a family of three, among them a four-year-old boy. The pilot, Captain Manish Raj Shakya, survived the crash and is receiving treatment at Kathmandu Medical College. He remains in the ICU but is reportedly able to speak, according to hospital sources.
Hansa Raj Pandey, deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed that the black box has been successfully recovered and handed over to the probe team. The investigation is led by Ratish Chandra Lal, a former director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, and includes four other experts. The team has been tasked with submitting a detailed report along with recommendations within 45 days.
The process of identifying the deceased is currently underway following post-mortem examinations. The bodies are expected to be returned to their families by Friday.
Local reports indicate that Captain Shakya survived because the cockpit was detached from the main fuselage by a freight container shortly before the aircraft was engulfed in flames. The plane was en route to Pokhara for routine engine maintenance when the crash occurred.
Sources By Agencies
