In a miraculous turn of events, Captain Manish Ratna Shakya, the pilot of a plane that crashed at Kathmandu airport, emerged as the sole survivor after his cockpit was sheared off by a freight container just seconds before the rest of the aircraft burst into flames, killing 18 people.
Rescuers described the harrowing moment when they reached Captain Shakya as flames closed in on the cockpit section of the aircraft embedded in the container. Despite facing difficulty breathing, they managed to break the window and pull him out, saving his life.
The Nepali police played a crucial role in the rescue operation, with Senior Superintendent Dambar Bishwakarma recounting how they found Captain Shakya with blood all over his face but still conscious. He was quickly taken to the hospital, where he is currently being treated for injuries to his head, face, and back.
Nepal’s civil aviation minister, Badri Pandey, revealed that the plane had suddenly veered right after takeoff before crashing into the east side of the runway. CCTV footage captured the aircraft engulfed in flames as it careened across the airport, with part of it eventually falling into a valley at the edge of the site.
The freight container that saved Captain Shakya’s life was used by a local helicopter company to store maintenance tools. The other part of the plane crashed into a nearby mound and was completely destroyed by the fire.
Prime Minister KP Sharma visited the hospital to meet with the pilot’s family, as investigations into the cause of the crash are underway. Initial assessments suggest that the plane flew in the wrong direction after takeoff, raising concerns about Nepal’s air safety record.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of air travel and the importance of stringent safety measures to prevent such disasters in the future.
